Latest news with #Massena
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two Rivers, Fort Covington solar projects moving forward
May 24—MASSENA — Boralex Inc. has entered into a Renewable Energy Standard Agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to move two proposed solar projects forward — Two Rivers Solar Project in the towns of Massena and Brasher and Fort Covington Solar Farm in Fort Covington. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced Thursday that contracts had been executed for 26 projects that, when completed, will provide more than 2.5 gigawatts of clean energy, which she said is enough to power more than 670,000 homes in the state. In addition, Hochul said, the projects will create more than 1,900 near-term, family-supporting jobs, and generate more than $6 billion in private investment. The contracts were awarded as part of NYSERDA's 2024 Renewable Energy Standard Competitive Solicitation for the purchase of New York Tier-1 Eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Each REC represents the environmental attributes of 1 megawatt-hour of electricity generated from an eligible renewable source such as solar energy "This is very exciting news for our town and the state as it looks to achieve its climate goals," Brasher Town Supervisor Mark A. Peets said. "Throughout the development of this project, Boralex has done an excellent job communicating the benefits to our community. They've listened to our concerns and, more importantly, made meaningful project changes that have helped build trust and support. We look forward to the hundreds of construction jobs, and tens of millions of dollars in economic development these projects will provide." "These developments are great news for our community and the surrounding area," Massena Town Supervisor Susan J. Bellor said. "I very much look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between Boralex and our town, and I'm excited about the long-term positive economic impact the project will have — not only for the participating landowners, but the broader community." Boralex US Development LLC filed an application with the state Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) in January for the proposed solar facility in the towns of Brasher and Massena. The permit application is currently under review by ORES. The Two Rivers Solar Project will be an approximately 200-megawatt solar photovoltaic electric generating facility located on approximately 1,000 acres of land. Project representatives had provided an overview of the plans during two open houses, one in September in Brasher and another in April 2024 at the Massena Community Center. The project, which Boralex originated in 2021, will include solar arrays and other project infrastructure such as the site roads, substation, and electrical interconnection to the New York Power Authority's new 345-kilovolt circuit. The project will create approximately 150 jobs during construction, as well as two to three long-term jobs to support operations and maintenance. Officials said during the open house that they were committed to developing a local workforce and using local workers as much as possible. In addition, the project will boost the local economy and add commerce for local businesses during construction and operation, and will provide significant tax revenues to the towns of Massena and Brasher, St. Lawrence County and local school districts. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with commissioning expected in 2028. More information about the project can be found at The Two Rivers Solar Project and Fort Covington Solar Farm were among seven north country projects that entered into contracts. Others included the Lyons Falls Mill Repower in Lewis County and Tracy Solar Energy Center in Jefferson County, as well as projects in Essex and Clinton counties.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Massena Central superihtendent addresses capital project public concerns
May 11—MASSENA — With the vote coming up this month for a proposed $79.8 million capital project, Massena Central School Superintendent Ronald P. Burke addressed what he saw as some of the public's concerns during the school board's monthly meeting. "When we talk about that $80 million project, it's an investment in our facilities, to maintain our facilities, to keep our facilities viable for student occupation, and for teachers and staff to be in our buildings. Just like your houses, we have to do maintenance. This is really not a glamorous project. When this project ends, I'm not sure who's going to want to come for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It's not real pretty," he said. But, he added, "There are things in our capital project that people are going to argue about and think are unnecessary. One of them, and I'll just pull the bandage back here right now, and that is the turf," he said. The turf field had been installed in 2009, at a time when current school board member Timothy J. Hayes was serving as the district's athletic director. It was first used in September 2009 for a varsity football game. "The turf is at the end of its life expectancy. When that turf was put in, it probably had a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years and we're there. When it gets to the point that it fails the compression test, we can't use it," Burke said. He said it's not a matter of "just pulling the carpet out and throwing grass seed down." "The sub base of the turf field is not the sub base for a grass field. So, if that turf fails and we have to replace it and the community says we want grass, we can do grass. But, it means a whole rebuild of that area," he said. "At some point, the community decided they wanted the turf. They felt that was the investment for the future, and it was also hopefully expressed that there's an ongoing maintenance cost to this. Every decade or so you're going to be re-pulling that out and putting new carpet down." Another portion of the project would address bus electrification at the district's bus garage. "That is about a $2.4 million proposition of that $80 million, and I think enough people have heard me already talk about my concern about electric buses and the whole process. However, as of last night, we had very firm deadlines. The original deadline to purchase electric buses was 2027. You could ask for a waiver for two years. So, by 2029 you could not purchase anything but an electric bus. They're not going to make diesels. They're not going to be allowed to be sold to schools in New York state. That is state law," Burke said. "The other part is that by 2035 whatever diesel or gasoline buses you're running, you no longer are allowed to use. Every bus has to be electric." He said they were planning for a worst-case scenario by including the electrification in the capital project. "I'm going to call it the way I see it. I look at this as our worst-case scenario that nothing changes with the law So, that $2.4 million is a really a plan. We'll plan for it. We will identify how we're going to electrify and put the charging stations where they're going to go. But, when it comes time for this, we're not going to go out for bid on this project until late 2026 or early 20276. My hope is that the law truly changes and just because it's there doesn't mean we have to use it," Burke said. He said, if the law changes and the school board agrees, the district will continue to use the conventional buses. "We will scrap that $2.4 million electrification plan and we'll go to Plan B. Plan B is our diesel, our gasoline tanks are now approaching the 20-year mark, and we know that about year 25 we're probably going to be ordered by the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) to replace those. So, instead of spending $2.4 million on electrification, hopefully we're talking about a price tag of somewhere around maybe a half a million to three-quarters of a million to replace those two tanks," he said. He said they had to include the electrification in case it was included in the state budget, which had not yet been approved when the school board met. "We're going to be voting in less than two weeks. We had to include that because we have no idea where the budget was going to go or how the law could possibly change," Burke said. The pool and the girl's locker room also needed to be addressed, he said. "I think there are some things that are truly essential, and then we're always going to have some disagreement about is that line item really necessary or not necessary," he said. Isabel Beard, the student representative to the school board, agreed that the project was necessary. She said her math teacher had to move to the computer lab because "there was literally stuff falling from the ceiling and causing students to cough." "So, I think, coming from a student perspective, living in the school almost eight hours every day, five days a week, while it looks nice on the outside, you really start to notice the issues in the school. So, while I think there might be some debate on the justification for what we're looking to improve, I think the improvements are necessary," she said.
