JORDANVILLE – Community Energy Inc. (CEI) is continuing its extensive pre-construction review, as experts studying the Jordanville Wind Energy Project are finalizing additional studies for the State Environmental Quality Review process. Community Energy released the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) May 19. This process evaluates environmental effects and social and economic factors. The 136 MW Jordanville Wind Farm is expected to generate $6.3 million in wage and salary compensation paid to local workers during construction, generate approximately $800,000 in annual revenues for local governments and school districts, and have the capacity to provide the annual electric needs of over 51,000 homes with clean, homegrown power, according to a spokesperson for CEI. A supplement is being prepared with additional studies for release in early November and will be provided for further public comment. The following is a list of some of the leading studies conducted by environmental, cultural and other professionals to complete the environmental impact study for the project, augment the DEIS and to respond to public comment on the wind farm. This research will be among the primary components included in the supplement. • Revised Turbine Location Map – provides the layout of a reduced 68 turbine project. • Second phase of the Cultural Resources Study investigates potential impacts to archeological sites and historical properties. • Visual Impact Assessment includes additional representatives’ photo simulations of what the turbines will look like. • Additional Acoustic Study measures the current levels of sound and incorporates the sound the turbines would add. • Wetlands Delineation Report determines location of wetlands and potential impacts from construction. • Hydrogeological Study analyzes the potential to impact groundwater and wells at the site. • Preliminary Decommissioning Plan reviews the details for removing the project components following the life of the project. Avian experts have also been contracted to perform a Raptor Study to survey migrating hawks and eagles at the Jordanville site. This study will be completed at the end of November with the report submitted in the Final Environmental Impact Study. The New York State environmental impact review process requires an extensive review of a comprehensive array of issues surrounding new development. As a result, acquiring all the data to properly perform the impact analysis takes a considerable amount of time. In addition, Community Energy’s development team has been working closely with the experts to carefully design this project. Dave Shadle, the director of CEI’s Development Team, said “Community Energy is designing this project to provide clean, renewable energy for more than 20 years, so we look at every aspect of the project to ensure we are optimizing the design for safe, reliable, long term operation. At the same time, we are looking at all of the background studies and public input to arrive at a project with minimal impacts to the surrounding area.”
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