Greetings!

                                                                         Photo by Doug Kerr is licensed under CC BY 2.0

TCCPI is a multisector collaboration seeking to leverage the climate action commitments made by Cornell University, Ithaca College, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and the Town of Ithaca to mobilize a countywide energy efficiency effort and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. Launched in June 2008 and generously supported by the Park Foundation, TCCPI is a project of Second Nature, the lead supporting organization of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

by Marguerite Wells, Project Manager

Black Oak Wind Farm in Enfield, about 10 miles west of Ithaca, achieved several significant milestones in the past few months, moving slowly but surely towards the day when it begins operation. The first commercial-scale wind farm in the East owned by local investors, the 11.9 MW project consists of seven 1.7MW turbines manufactured by General Electric (GE). The total cost will be about $34 million.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), consisting of 21 separate studies and totaling some 1,600 pages, was completed and a public hearing was held in July. Nearly all of the 

speakers at the public hearing expressed strong support for the project and the Final EIS is now being readied for approval by the Town Board of Enfield.

Members of the Black Oak board, Enfield residents, and local government officials visited the Howard Wind Farm last March. Photo credit: Mike Meador.

The Black Oak board attained another major milestone in December when it executed a contract with GE for the turbines. At the same time a construction crew graded the turbine roads and dug a foundation hole for a permanent met tower to collect wind data. 

Together these actions ensured that the wind farm met Internal Revenue Service requirements for the federal production tax credit, a critical part of the project's financial viability. Congress did not extend this tax incentive for the wind industry beyond 2013, which obviously made qualifying last year a crucial task.  

Perhaps most significant, NYSERDA announced last month that it had awarded a contract to Black Oak to buy its renewable energy credits for the first ten years. The $16.3 million contract represents another key revenue stream for the wind farm. The downside of the NYSERDA award was that it required a $400,000 letter of credit for contract security to guarantee Black Oak's follow-through, necessitating a second round of equity financing.

Black Oak's first round was very successful, raising $1.2 million from over 80 investors, most of whom are from the local community. The second round also went smoothly, with another $625,000 raised in just a few weeks. Twenty-six new members joined as a result of the latest round, bringing the wind farm's membership to about 110 households.

Other important milestones include the receipt of bids from contractors to construct the project; conclusion of the second of three interconnection studies with the NYISO; and installation of high speed internet, which will service the project but also provide service to western Enfield residents for the first time. Major construction will be underway by this fall and Black Oak should be open for business in spring 2015.

by Peter Bardaglio, TCCPI Coordinator

Efforts to identify actions local governments in Tompkins County can take to accelerate the transition to a more efficient, renewable energy future have gained significant momentum recently with the emergence of an ad hoc working group called the Smart Energy Policy Initiative (SEPI). 

 

The group, which includes representatives from local municipalities, the Tompkins County Planning Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins County, the Park Foundation, and

Photo credit: David Falconer, EPA.

the Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative, has decided after several months of discussions and research to focus on a small number of priorities it believes will be most effective in moving the community forward. 

 

The initiative seeks to streamline and improve the understanding of codes and review processes for energy systems, as well as provide energy ratings of buildings that will allow renters and purchasers of property to make more informed choices. The four areas identified as priorities for the next few years are: 

1. Uniform Solar Permitting: encouraging adoption of the State's new permit for residential photovoltaic system installations; 
2. Home Energy Rating and Disclosure: carrying out a study to determine the benefits and potential drawbacks of an action to mandate an energy rating disclosure when a home is put on the market to help the potential buyer have a clear understanding of energy efficiency; 
3. Energy Conservation Code Education Program: engaging in educational outreach to ensure builders and code enforcement officials have a clear understanding of the recently revised Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS); and 
4. Building Labeling for Multi-Family Rental Properties: exploring ways to ensure that all municipalities in Tompkins County, especially the City of Ithaca and Villages, examine and develop a labeling system for multi-family rental properties to encourage energy-saving upgrades to multi-family buildings. 

Next TCCPI Meeting:

Friday, February 28, 2014

9 to 11 am

Borg Warner Room

Ithaca, NY 14850

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