Pictured is 5485 West Lake Road, in the town of Pomfret. This is the area where a coal ash recycling plant is proposed to be constructed. P-J photo

The New York Power Authority board has approved a 2,550-kilowatt hydropower allocation in support of an expansion project in northern Chautauqua County that will spur approximately $45 million in capital investment and creating 20 green jobs in the region.

Coal Ash Recycling LLC, an owner of landfill sites that hold fly ash, a key component in concrete manufacturing, is planning an expansion project at its Fredonia facility to remediate and process fly ash so that it may be used in the production of low-carbon green concrete. Fly ash is a byproduct of burning ground coal to generate electricity. CAR’s Chautauqua County landfill contains fly ash produced at the Dunkirk Generating Station in the 1960s through the 1980s.

“Hydropower from the Niagara Power project is the backbone of Western New York’s economy,” said New York Power Authority Chairman and Buffalo resident John R. Koelmel. “The hydropower awards approved at today’s meeting will support firms that advance the goals of New York’s nation-leading climate agenda and provide important services that will strengthen Western New York’s growing clean energy economy.”

The production of cement, a common ingredient in concrete, is responsible for nearly 8 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Substituting fly ash for cement in concrete production increases the life of concrete structures by improving its overall strength and durability. Additionally, it saves water and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

CAR’s application was considered under the Green Jobs Evaluation Incentive Plan approved by the trustees on Dec. 9, 2020. The plan allows for the consideration of green jobs impacts when evaluating applications for NYPA hydropower. CAR’s project meets the qualifying criteria as a green jobs company in New York State. Additionally, the project supports the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and Low Embodied Carbon Concrete Leadership Act, which requires the use of low-carbon concrete on New York State funded projects.

During a March 2021 Chautauqua County Planning Board meeting, board members heard about a proposal for the plant, which would be located on Route 5 in the town of Pomfret. Andy Dorn Jr. is the chairman of Coal Ash Recycling, LLC and made the virtual presentation.

The Don Frame Trucking Landfill was located at 5485 West Lake Road, Fredonia. It was acquired by Coal Ash Recycling in July 2014. The 70 acre landfill contains approximately 2.15 million tons of Class F fly ash and bottom ash produced at the Dunkirk Generating Station between 1964 and 1989, until it was closed in 1989 under the supervision of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to Dorn, Coal Ash Recycling has sampled the landfill to determine the quantity and chemical composition of the coal combustion materials. It has a technology solution that will allow that coal ash to be processed to meet the standard for use in ready-mix concrete.

Dorn noted that coal fly ash is the airborne, non-combustible residue that results from coal-fired electric power production. Fly ash is an integral part of durable concrete for use in critical infrastructure.

At the time, it was anticipated the project would operate at least nine months a year for up to 15 years, on a 24 hour a day, seven day a week basis. The company expects the final investment may exceed $15 million in upfront private capital investment with an annual operating budget of about $4 million.