After Push from Schumer: Public Service Commission Approves Ownership Transfer of Wind Farm Transmission Facility to NYSEG, Boosting Tax Revenue for Wyoming County Residents

Press Release

NYS Public Service Commission Finalizes Transfer of Electrical Transmission Facility to Private Ownership; Providing Return on Investment for Local Community in Property Taxes

Transfer of $6 Million Electrical Facility Already Approved by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Now PSC Has Followed Suit

Schumer: Wyoming County Residents Will Now Reap The Benefits of This Investment in Clean Energy

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the NYS Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved the ownership transfer of an electrical transmission facility in Orangeville assessed at $6 million, from the Wyoming County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG). Last week, Schumer sent a letter to the Secretary of the PSC, noting that the Joint Petition for the transfer of this property was filed on April 8, 2010, and asking that this long-overdue transfer be resolved by PSC's upcoming meeting, which was held today. At the meeting, PSC approved the transfer, which means that this $6 million facility will be added to the local tax base. Orangeville and Wyoming County residents will soon begin to reap the benefits of increased tax revenues for their community.

"I am pleased that the NYS Public Service Commission has finally agreed to transfer ownership of the wind farm transmission property, providing a boost in tax revenue for Orangeville and Wyoming County," said Schumer. "Taxpayers deserve to benefit from this facility, both in terms of the clean energy and tax revenue it generates. This is great news for the area, and I'm thrilled we were able to get this done."

"Wind energy production has become an important economic resource to Wyoming County. The transfer of the Orangeville switchyard to NYSEG will provide an additional benefit to the Town of Orangeville and the County as a whole. We are grateful to Senator Schumer for helping to move this process forward, as it also helps other energy projects come to fruition," said Mike Heftka, Wyoming County IDA Executive Director.

"I would like to thank Senator Schumer for taking time out from his busy schedule in Washington to resolve the matter involving the transfer station located in the Town of Orangeville, Wyoming County. I am sure the taxpayers of the Town of Orangeville and Wyoming County will greatly benefit from the wind electric transfer station being placed on the tax rolls for six million dollars. This will further enhance school district revenues in Attica and Warsaw in light of recent state budget cuts from school districts and further assisting town and county with additional revenues to help support state mandated programs that are beyond control of the town and county," said Town of Orangeville Supervisor Susan May
In 2008, this transmission facility in Orangeville was constructed, and has been initially owned by the Wyoming County Industrial Development Agency as part of the larger Noble Wethersfield public-private project that created a multi-million dollar 126 megawatt wind farm in Wyoming County. A requirement of this project included the transfer of this transmission facility to private ownership in order to provide a return on investment to the local community in the form of property taxes. Schumer noted that the Joint Petition for the transfer of this property was filed on April 8, 2010, and it was critical for this exchange to occur swiftly, so that local communities can directly benefit from clean-energy investments in their communities and residents can avoid shouldering an excessive property tax burden. Today, the transfer has been approved, clearing the way for Wyoming County and Orangeville to benefit.

In 2010, the NYSEG began the process to transfer ownership, in conjunction with Wyoming County IDA and Noble Power. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the transfer, but it had been bottled up at the NYS Public Service Commission due to a variety of bureaucratic roadblocks. Schumer urged the PSC to resolve these issues swiftly and make the long-overdue transfer a reality, especially considering that it has already been approved by the FERC. Today the Public Service Commission approving the ownership transfer, passing it on consent.

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