Cayuga County's first major wind energy project moving forward

Local residents will soon have a chance to learn more about Cayuga County's first major wind energy project.

The Agricola Wind project, which would place 24 turbines across 50 acres of land between the towns of Scipio and Venice, will be the subject of an hour-long virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. It will include a presentation by the project's developer, Liberty Renewables, and a community Q&A. For more information, or to submit a question ahead of time, visit liberty-renewables.com/agricolawind .

Liberty, which Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners acquired in May of this year, plans to apply for a permit for the project from the state Office of Renewable Energy Siting at the end of October. The project has been in the works since 2021 , and comes as New York attempts to generate more of its energy from renewable sources. The state aims for 70% renewable-source electricity by 2030.

While that gives the turbines a feeling of inevitability, Venice Town Supervisor Stefan McGonagle said, Liberty has handled the project well.

"They've been very forthright," he said. "They've attended many board meetings. We've worked closely with them in the second generation of our wind law."

The law, which the town board passed in August, requires that applicants for wind energy facility permits have a plan for potential soil contamination, similar to a current requirement for potential water contamination. McGonagle said Liberty helped review the wording of the law, pointing out any that the state might flag or throw out, in order to expedite its passage.

Both towns held an open house about the project Aug. 13. McGonagle said he's seen a slow uptick in comments over the last couple months, including concerns from Venice resident Bryan Wyckoff. At an Aug. 1 town board meeting, he shared an about turbine blades containing and potentially shedding bisphenol A, a type of plastic, a claim the American Clean Power Association has debunked .

In Scipio, resident Connie O'Hearn raised concerns about the project's impact on people and animals, according to minutes from the town board's Aug. 14 meeting.

Despite their opposition, Liberty is on track with its project timeline. If the developer receives the permit, construction would begin in 2026 and take a year to 18 months.

According to Liberty's website, the turbines would have a life span of about 25 years. The 650-foot turbines would produce up to 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 30,000 homes.

The turbines would be located at least 1,500 feet from any occupied buildings, including homes and schools. They would make about 45 weighted decibels of noise.

Liberty Renewables did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Citizen.

Staff writer Christopher Malone can be reached at (315) 282-2232 or .

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