Wind Energy Meeting Notes   4/6/08

Attending:

Joe Armstrong, Karin Busch, Stan Busch, Gerry Chartier, Winnie Chartier, Sandy Gordon, Sue Hawkes-Teeter, Gerry Lenseth, Kathy Moore, Amy Pokorny, Russ Pokorny, Peter Polukort, Loren Pruskowski, Doug Roether, Carol Willsey, Warren Willsey

1.  Deliverables:

• Plans and preparation for the public presentation of the NYSERDA funded study results were discussed.
• The presentation should be about 35 minutes long.  A practice session will be held at our next meeting at 7 PM on Sunday, May 18 at the Octagon Barn.  The public meeting will be held at 7 PM at the BKW school auditorium on Wednesday, June 18.   Carol Willsey will make arrangements with the school for the space and for use of a projector and screen.  Loren and Kathy will bring their computer. 
• Amy and Russ will put a notice in the Altamont Enterprise.  It will be billed as “Hilltown Community Wind Energy Forum,”  a presentation on the NYSERDA funded study of community owned wind energy potential in the Helderberg Hilltowns.

F.  Photomontage 

• (4/6/08) 2.5 MW “Clipper” turbines are large, (500’ tall with 170’ long blades), new technology manufactured in US by GE, but performance problems are not yet worked out.  They are in use along shoreline near Buffalo.  For conservative planning, the photomontage will show three 1.5 MW turbines (400’ tall with 120’ long blades) that are proven, industry standard, rather than the two larger machines we had discussed.  Loren will email the photomontage to Amy for distribution to the group. 
• Actual photos of the balloon at 80 meters high will be posted to the website. 
• Sarah Gordon’s visual analysis will also be posted on the website.    

2.  Additional development efforts necessary to construct project:

C.  Obtain local permits and navigate through the SEQR process

• The zoning permit for the meteorological tower will expire in April 2008.  Loren sent a letter to Bob Price requesting an extension so additional data could be gathered.  Three to four years of wind data is helpful for bank financing.  Amy and Russ will attend the Planning Board meeting April 10 at 7:30 PM. 
• At issue is ownership of the data that is collected.  The group would like to extend the permit with the current provision of ownership so that the “community owned” wind energy project can be inclusive of the larger Hilltowns area, rather than restricted to the Town of Knox, as funding sources have not yet been identified.  There is also value in sharing the data for long term correlations of data for other projects in the area.  The NYSERDA project would like to conclude their study before any entity contracts with Loren and Kathy for ownership of the data.

D.  Construction financing

• (4/6/08) Loren drafted a cost estimate for three 1.5 MW turbines at about $10.3 million.  He will make a cost benefit analysis when his cost figures are confirmed. 
• After the public presentation, a financing committee will be convened.

9.  Energy costs will be increasing in the future, as rate caps will be coming off in NYS in 2008-09.  Rates have increased from $.075 to $.16 for Jiminy Peak since they went online.  

American mined coal is now being shipped to China for sale at low prices, with the weak US dollar, which could cause domestic coal prices to go up. 

4.  Process:

• An education committee will be convened to make information available to the public.
• FAQ sheet revisions have been posted to the website and can be used at the public meeting.
• A kiosk could be set up in the field at the barn to present information about wind power, the data, and about upcoming events. 
• A national conference on Community Wind Energy will be held at the Empire State Plaza on April 14 to 16.  Registration is $375 for the full conference. 

Next meeting will be at 7 PM on Sunday, May 18 at the Octagon Barn.