Reunion offers free power to Cherry Valley 

Reunion Power was expected to announce late Wednesday afternoon that it has upped the ante by offering to further subsidize the electricity cost for residents in the town and village of Cherry Valley.

East Hill Wind Farm LLC is working with NYSEG Solutions in an effort that will result in the proposed East Hill Wind Farm providing electricity via NYSEG Solutions directly to participating homes in Cherry Valley for 20 years, according to a press release from East Hill Wind Farm LLC.

David Little, vice president of development for Reunion Power, stated, “Working cooperatively with the community is extremely important and this agreement would bring one of the many benefits of the wind farm directly to every home in the town and village.”

According to the press release, each month residents currently receive an electricity bill that includes delivery charges (payable to National Grid) and energy charges (payable to National Grid or another energy provider). Based on the proposal, by making a switch to NYSEG Solutions, the electricity supply charges could be zero (based upon the average New York State home usage of 5,879 kWh per year). Customers would continue to pay delivery charges to National Grid.

This benefit is contingent on the successful development, permitting and construction of the East Hill Wind Farm and would commence with the beginning of commercial operations of the wind farm and continue for 20 years _ the life expectancy of the project.

“Not only will Cherry Valley residents be able to say that their homes are powered 100 percent by wind power from the East Hill Wind Farm, but the average Cherry Valley homeowner will have an electricity supply cost of zero. This is a project benefit that to our knowledge is the first of its kind,” said Steve Eisenberg, Reunion Power’s managing director.

James Distefano of NYSEG Solutions said, “NYSEG Solutions is very interested in working with the East Hill Wind Farm to bring wind power to Cherry Valley. Through deregulation, New York State has made it possible for residential customers to choose their electricity supplier. Once an agreement is finalized, customers will be able to receive the benefits of the wind farm simply by switching to NYSEG Solutions as their energy provider.”

According to the press release, this discount is in addition to other community economic benefits of the proposed East Hill Wind Farm, including:

$7.5 million payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), also over 20 years. The East Hill Wind Farm has proposed a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with the County of Otsego Industrial Development Agency (IDA) that could bring more than $7.5 million over a 20-year period for the town, school and county based on the current proposed project size. [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Payments to landowners leasing property and adjacent property owners to the East Hill Wind Farm.

East Hill Wind Farm LLC is a joint development effort of Reunion Power LLC and Edison Mission Group. Edison, based in Irvine California, is a subsidiary of Edison International. Reunion’s development and finance office is located in Manchester, Vt., and the company specializes in the development and management of wind energy projects. Reunion currently manages and has an ownership position in over 180 MW of operating wind farms in the Midwest. The company’s principals have developed over 400 MW of environmentally efficient power generating facilities throughout upstate New York, the press release said. For more information on the wind farm, see www.EastHillWind.com.

NYSEG Solutions is a full-service energy supplier providing natural gas and electricity along with energy related products and services for homes and businesses. NYSEG Solutions was founded in 1998, and has become a leading unregulated energy supplier in upstate New York serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout the state.

Cooperstown Crier Staff Report

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