Agriculture/Planning/Environmental Committee

April 5, 2005 – 7:30 a.m.

Draft Minutes

Members present: Danny Ross, Chairman; Merwin Armstrong; John Steger, Tom Hartnett; Paul Allen; Scott Steve, Chairman of the Legislature

Others present: Ann Homer; Syd McEvoy, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Fay Benson, GRAZE NY Specialist; Skip Brennan, Community Energy; Dan Dineen; Amanda Barber, Soil and Water Conservation District; Eric Mulvihill; Scott Schrader, County Administrator

Excused: Ron VanDee

Chairman Ross called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m..

Mr. Steger moved adoption of the minutes of the March 1, 2005, meeting; seconded by Mr. Armstrong.. All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as .

1. Authorize Agreement, Cortland County (Federation of Sportsmen) – Mr. Armstrong moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Hartnett. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

2. Declare Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact under State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) for the Cortland County Consolidated Agricultural District, Authorize SEQR Form, Planning Department – Mr. Steger moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Dineen indicated that this is a result of the study of the Ag Districts. We have now gone through the SEQR process and it is a negative declaration to combine the Ag Districts. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

1. Syd McEvoy – Graze NY presentation – Mr. McEvoy introduced Mr. Fay Benson, who is the Graze NY Specialist. Mr. Benson indicated he was a dairy farmer in Groton for about 20 years. About two years ago, he had the option of staying in farming or trying something else. He decided to do something else. The position was available in Cooperative Extension, and it uses his expertise from his farming years. He has been in the position about two years. This program is funded by Federal money through Congressman Walsh; it has existed since 1992. It covers Cortland and the contiguous counties; it may be expanding this year. It is a partnership with Cooperative Extension and SWCD. Cooperative Extension provides education to the farmers on grazing practices. The funding for this program is $33,000, which covers all the costs for Mr. Benson and his execution of the program. Mr. Benson reviewed a sampling of programs that he has conducted under this program. Mr. Benson indicated that actual farm visits are a major part of his position and he feels very comfortable visiting the farms.

3. Wind Power Project – Skip Brennan from Community Energy – Mr. Brennan explained that Community Energy’s mission is to ignite the wind market, and they have successfully done this over the past five years. They have put customers together with actual wind projects in the ground. They have had success with customers who want to tap in to wind energy. The Fenner Project in Madison County is a prime example. Mr. Brennan is located in Saratoga Springs and he is currently busy with a project in southern Herkimer County. They are currently developing a couple of active projects this year – one in Northeastern Pennsylvania and another in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They are commissioning a project in Illinois right now. The planning horizon for this energy source is expanding. They have a good reputation in New York based on their reputation with the utilities. You can sign up for wind source of energy on your NIMO and NYSEG bills. They are very interested in Cortland County and the sites we might have. They are always on the lookout for new sites. He has worked on a project in Ithaca for Cornell, so he is slightly familiar with the project. Education is a major part of this process as residents are wary about where the mills and the lines will go. Mr. Dineen reviewed the map outlining the transmission line locations and the possible locations of the actual windmills. There are 10 sites that are along the transmission line. One of the sites is the County Landfill site. Mr. Dineen asked Mr. Brennan about the thoughts of putting a site on the landfill. He has worked on a site that is on the buffer side of the landfill (near Watertown). On the landfill gets a little tough because of the weight of the tower and the cell. Any tilt in the tower can cause problems. Mr. Dineen explained that we wouldn’t place the windmill on the actual landfill but near the site on untouched soil. Mr. Brennan asked about how much land is available. Mr. Dineen explained that there are 300 to 400 acres. Mr. Brennan explained that you leave 40 to 50 acres per turbine. Mr. Brennan explained that given some particulars, it appears that the landfill site would work well. Mr. Brennan explained that it is usually 30 to 40 acres per one tower. Chairman Steve asked how much each turbine puts out. GE makes a turbine that is 1.5 MHz per one turbine. Another producer makes one that is 1.65 MHz. These are the two most frequently used turbines. There are turbines from Europe that are 2.00 MHz. Mr. Ross clarified that the reason for the amount of property is so that turbines don’t interfere with each other. Chairman Steve asked what the neighbors would need to do to participate. Mr. Brennan explained that there is a land lease that is executed with the landowner for the placement of a turbine. There is an agreement that is signed up front just to do the study to see if the property is suited for a turbine. Then, if the property is suitable, there is a second agreement that includes payments over a specified period of time. Mr. Brennan indicated that Cortland County has fair speeds, not screaming speeds, so we would want to select the very best site to tap in to the best winds. Chairman Steve asked if they couldn’t tap in to existing cell towers to check wind speeds and see which side of Route 81 would be the best location. Wouldn’t that be the first site? Mr. Brennan indicated that Mr. Dineen has used the New York Wind Map to identify sites. He is now trying to leap frog a year-long program. Cell towers often interfere with the actual reading of the wind speeds and may not be the best location for test sites. The benefit in Cortland County is that there is some political will to move ahead with this project. This is an opportunity to lead them to a good spot on which the County is willing to place a wind farm. The next step is to look at all the documentation, work with Dan Dineen, and then actually place a Met Tower on site. This tower will indicate, in a year’s time, whether or not the tower site is the best location. Mr. Brennan indicated that they would have to look at the sites more carefully and then discuss with the County the most viable site. Community Energy is very interested in pursuing this with the County. Chairman Steve asked about whether the County has budget money available. Mr. Brennan indicated that Community Energy often invests some of its own money with the hope that this will develop in to funding. The placement of the Met Tower can run approximately $20,000. What they are looking for is long-term wind speeds (a 20 year period). Chairman Steve asked if the National Weather Service doesn’t have a Met Tower in our County. Mr. Brennan indicated that they do, but it is probably smaller than they will use and it is located at the airport, which is not a prime location. Mr. Brennan indicated that there is a newer wind map for the State that Mr. Dineen may want to tap in to in order to have the most current information. The wind map is available at www.awstruewind.com. In looking at the map, Mr. Brennan indicated that he cannot say that the landfill location is "it" for the best spot to place the wind mill farm. Mr. Brennan indicated that Community Energy is willing to continue working with the County on the development of the project. Mr. Brennan indicates that he has had one landowner in Cuyler who has approached them about a project, so that may be the best place to start. Mr. Dineen asked who assumes the cost of the tower? Mr. Brennan indicated that they could have a conversation with us about this; if there is money available, they would apply for it, as it would help offset the cost of the project. Mr. Brennan indicated that the goal is to do some initial mapping to find out the County’s wind resource and then to have Community Energy take it further. He would suggest putting up a Met Tower that you feel would be the best location in the entire County. The reason he brought up the money is that he read the minutes and apparently there is some money that has been allocated for this project. Once a project is identified, you then have to look at birds, bats, endangered species, other environmental issues, as well as zoning, permitting, and the airport locations, etc. Mr. Brennan asked what the next step would be; do we see a next step? Mr. Dineen explained that we could need to further discuss the Met Tower and some more of the details surrounding funding. Mr. Brennan explained that we should keep our eye on NYSERDA, as they often have funding available. Community Energy is excited to work with us.

The meeting adjourned at 8:34 a.m.

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