New York State Public Service Commission Issues Regulatory Document for 99-Megawatt Wind Energy Facility

Strategic Insights -

The New York State Public Service Commission has issued a regulatory document regarding a 99-megawatt wind energy facility to be constructed in the Towns of Scipio and Venice, Cayuga County, New York. Agricola Wind, LLC has applied for a permit to develop the facility, but the Town of Scipio has expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts on the town's drinking water, agricultural land, and residents. The Town has submitted a petition for party status, identifying several issues that need to be resolved before the facility can be constructed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Town of Scipio has submitted a petition for party status to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) regarding the application of Agricola Wind, LLC for a permit to construct a 99-megawatt wind energy facility.
  • The Town is concerned about the potential negative impacts of the facility on the town's drinking water, agricultural land, and residents.
  • The Town's concerns include waiver of local laws and regulations, as well as the facility's compliance with the Town's zoning ordinance and other local laws.
  • The Town has submitted a report from Professor Harold van Es, a Professor of Soil and Water Management at Cornell University, which analyzes the adverse impacts of the facility as proposed.
  • The Town's engineering consultants, Hunt Engineers, Architects & Surveyors, have reviewed the application and identified several issues that need to be resolved before the facility can be constructed.
  • The Town is requesting an adjudicatory hearing to allow the presentation of evidence demonstrating the waiver of the Town's local laws governing and protecting its agricultural resources is not warranted.

Statistics:

  • 99 megawatts: the proposed capacity of the wind energy facility
  • 2,000 acres: the area of land zoned for agricultural and residential uses where the facility is proposed to be constructed (Source: Town of Scipio Petition for Party Status)
  • 80%: the percentage of citizens who have expressed opposition to the project (Source: Town of Scipio Petition for Party Status)
  • $1 billion: the estimated cost of the wind energy facility (Source: Agricola Wind, LLC Application)
  • 2025: the year in which the facility is proposed to be constructed and operational (Source: Agricola Wind, LLC Application)

Sources:

  • (08/11/2025): New York State Public Service Commission, Regulatory Document, STATE OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING Application of Agricola Wind, LLC, for a Permit Pursuant to Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law To Develop, Design, Construct, Operate, Maintain, and Decommission a 99-Megawatt Wind Energy Facility Located in the Towns of Scipio and Venice Cayuga County, New York Matter No. 23-03002
  • Town of Scipio Petition for Party Status, TOWN OF SCIPIO COMBINED PETITION FOR PARTY STATUS, ISSUE STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAWS
  • Agricola Wind, LLC Application, Application of Agricola Wind, LLC, for a Permit Pursuant to Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law To Develop, Design, Construct, Operate, Maintain, and Decommission a 99-Megawatt Wind Energy Facility Located in the Towns of Scipio and Venice Cayuga County, New York Matter No. 23-03002