Letter to Karen Mousaw, Economic Development Program Coordinator, National Grid
Letter
June 14, 2011
Karen Mousaw
Economic Development Program Coordinator
National Grid
300 Erie Boulevard West
Syracuse, New York 13202
Dear Ms. Mousaw:
I am writing in support of the application submitted by the Wyoming County IDA to National Grid for funding through the Renewable Energy and Economic Development Program for a mixed-waste anaerobic digestion and renewable energy facility at the Synergy Dairy located in the Town of Covington.
Across Western New York I have long pushed for new clean energy development to create jobs and grow local economies in an environmentally sustainable way. Expanding the use of biodigesters is integral in my clean energy development efforts since this technology leverages New York's robust agricultural sector and produces savings for families, farmers and businesses. Indeed, this Synergy Biogas will create local jobs in both the construction and operation of the plant facility and will generate more than 10,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 8,500 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
This facility will be one of the largest on-farm digesters in the state and the first independently owned and operated plant located on a dairy farm. Additionally, the facility will be the first biogas plant in New York State designed specifically for co-digestion of manure with food grade organic waste which would otherwise end up in landfills.
This grant funding will not only help the Wyoming County IDA fund the transmission facility to connect the digester to the grid, but will enable Cornell University and the Rochester Institute of Technology to evaluate and report on the performance and environmental benefits of the project to encourage similar future developments.
For these reasons, I am pleased to support the Wyoming County IDA's application to leverage this project's full potential. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact my office at 202-224-6542 should you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Senator Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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