Press Releases

North Ridge Wind Farm

North Ridge Wind Farm

Project Update

Dear Town of Hopkinton Resident,

We want to build a long-term relationship that benefits everyone who lives and works here. Given that, we’re aiming to deliver more benefits directly to you and your neighbors and address real concerns. We continue to work in partnership with the community by announcing new North Ridge Wind Farm details born from feedback in the Article 10 process, discussions with landowners and residents, and the results of our technological assessments of the site itself.

Based on the feedback, as well as the time to more fully assess a new preliminary turbine layout, we are now in a better position to articulate how our project proposal can directly benefit your community.

You’ve been telling us what this community wants and we’ve not only listened — we learned.

We’ve heard we’re not going to pay our fair share of taxes. Here’s what we’re offering:

• We’re committed to paying an estimated $750,000 in annual PILOT/Host Community Agreement payments over 30 years for a 100 MW project to the Town, County and School District. These payments will increase each year. This revenue will represent a significant portion of the Town’s annual budget. We’re also going to pay our fair share of special district taxes. For example, it’s estimated that the Town’s fire district will receive $30,000 to $40,000 annually from Avangrid. Further, given the public’s concern over this issue, Avangrid has agreed to pay up to $30,000 for the cost of an appraiser chosen by the Town, County and School District to address the public’s concern.

We’ve heard that only the project landowners receive benefits and the adjacent landowners are left out. Here’s what we’re offering:

• We’re extending offers of direct annual payments totaling $67,000 over 30 years to landowners with permanent residences located within 3,000 feet of a turbine location. Under this agreement, one time payments of $2,000 and $5,000 would respectively be made at signing and start of construction, and $2,000 paid annually for 30 years after the commercial operation date.

We’ve heard that residents won’t receive any electrical benefits from this Project’s energy production. Here’s our plan:

• We’re introducing an Electric Bill Offset Program for Town residents that would pay 75% of their annual residential electric bills for 30 years after the commercial operation date, up to $1,200/year. As an example, a landowner with an average monthly bill of $120 would receive $1,080 annually, or $32,400 over 30 years. We are committed to working with the Town to develop this program for the Town residents.

We’ve heard that residents will see the blinking lights all night long. Here’s our solution:

• We’re committed to significantly reducing the Project’s visual impact by installing a FAA-approved radar-activated lighting system designed to turn the blinking obstruction lighting on or off based on aircraft activity.

We are excited to have residents like you to partner with us in bringing clean energy and economic development to Hopkinton. We’re also hoping you’ll help us spread this message, visit our website for project information (www.avangridrenewables.us/northridge/), as well as follow the New York State Department of Public Service link to post your support for the Project.

It is also very important that we ask you to contact the Hopkinton Town Board to express your support for the Project and the Project design requirements that enable the Project to proceed and also fully address the protection of the community’s health and environment. You can leave a message for the Town Clerk, Vicky French, or Town Supervisor, Sue Wood, at 315-328-4187, or respectively by email at vfrench@nnymail.comand swood@nnymail.com.

For those of you who have experienced bullying from some in the community, we’re also hoping that you will join us in standing up to the bullies who are trying to intimidate the majority of citizens who want to do the right thing. United, we can’t be intimidated. Together we have so much to gain. We want to hear from you.

As always, please contact us at 315-274-0264 or stop by the Project office located at 15 Mill Street in Parishville. The office hours are from 9 AM to 2 PM on Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment at the office or conveniently at your residence. We look forward to meeting you.

Yours Sincerely,
Scott L. McDonald
Lead/Senior Business Developer

 

Working Together for a Clean Energy Future

Harnessing renewable energy resources like wind can lead to a better and cleaner future for all communities, as wind turbines create virtually no air pollution, no water pollution or hazardous emissions and consume no water. Notably, homegrown energy creates local jobs and energy independence, and helps support a strong manufacturing base in the U.S.

Avangrid Renewables is part of the Iberdrola Group, an energy pioneer with the largest renewable asset base of any company in the world. Our projects have brought real economic benefits for local business owners, schools and communities as a whole. We are proud to be a part of the communities where we live and work and are excited to work together with the North Country community on the proposed North Ridge Wind Farm to create lasting economic opportunities for the area.

 

Upcoming Events

Thanks for joining us at our public open house sessions on March 7! Please stay tuned for details on our next public meeting. To learn the latest project information, check out the resources in our more information section below.

 

Learn how Lowville Academy and Central School has benefited from the nearby Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lowville, New York.

 

Project Location

The proposed North Ridge Wind Farm would include the towns of Hopkinton and Parishville in St. Lawrence County, New York.

 

Wind Farm Generation Capacity

Approximately 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable wind energy, which is enough clean, homegrown electricity to power nearly 25,000 average New York homes annually.

 

Expected Local Economic Benefits

	125 construction jobs, and opportunities for local construction and construction supply vendors
	6 permanent, full-time jobs
	Up to $500,000 annually in direct lease, easement and neighbor agreement payments to landowners ($15 million over 30 years)
	Up to $750,000 annually in increased revenues to county and local municipal tax bases to help defray costs for schools, public safety and county services ($23 million over 30 years)
	$3 million estimated project spending on local goods and services during development and construction

 

Contact Us

Atlantic Wind LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables, is developing the North Ridge Wind Farm. If you are looking for any publicly filed project permitting documents, or can’t find them listed below, please email us.

Email Us:	NorthRidgeWind@avangrid.com
Call Us:	315-874-4231 (If you don’t reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call.)
Office Location:	Avangrid is excited to announce it will be opening a new office location in Parishville, located at 15 Mill Street.
Our Office Hours:	Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment.