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Board OKs Limits For Cassadaga Wind Project

CASSADAGA — Cassadaga Wind Project, LLC was granted its amendment from the state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment Issues to eliminate the long-term sound limit requirements on the Wind Project, as well as approve revised sound testing protocol.

The Cassadaga Wind Project, which consists of 48 turbines in Cherry Creek, Stockton, Arkwright, and Charlotte, filed for this amendment in January. Cassandra Partyka, assistant counsel to the state Department of Public Service delivered the presentation to the Siting Board for Cassadaga Wind Project.

“According to Cassadaga Wind Project, this is necessary because certificate condition 80-b requires the project to comply with both short term and long term annual sound limits,” Partyka said. “Certificate conditions 71 and 72 require post construction sound monitoring in compliance with these limits. Cassadaga Wind asserts that because the project will comply with short term sound levels and be designed to long term sound levels required in the other certificate conditions, the elimination of the annual sound limit will not result in substantial adverse change in noise levels.”

The order proposed addresses the requested amendment only, as the revised sound testing compliance protocol and revised noise complaint resolution protocol will be addressed separately before public service. This change would make certificate condition 80 consistent with all other article 10 wind generation certificates compliant with the siting board to date. The change is also necessary for Cassadaga Wind, because certificate condition 80-b requires the project to comply with the short term and long term limits.

“The Siting Board secretary met with Department of Public Service staff, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Department of Health,” Partyka said. “And in a February 12 letter, concluded that the proposed modifications would not result in a significant adverse increase to environmental impact, and should not constitute a revision requiring a hearing under the regulations.”

The Siting Board has previously determined that the short term limits and design limits sufficiently minimize and avoid noise impacts to the maximum extent.

“Therefore, provided Cassadaga complies with other noise certifications,” Partyka said. “Removing the annual sound limit would not result in any additional environmental impact.”

Cassadaga Wind remains responsible for complying with all other regulations. The amendment was unanimously approved by the Siting Board.

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