Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. - Energy Highway

CPV VALLEY ENERGY CENTER
The Final EIS contains the details of the various analyses of public safety concerns, such as air quality,
traffic, and natural resource impacts. Also included in the Final EIS are summaries of impacts related
to concerns of potential spills or leaks of various industrial products stored on site, such as fuel oil and
ammonia that is used to reduce environmental emissions. The results were that each one of these
concerns were addressed either through safety design features of the facility, such as berming of
storage vessels that are capable of containing 110% of the vessels capacity, or operating procedures.
To appreciate the extent of the comprehensive evaluations conducted and reviewed by the public,
please refer to the table of contents from the CPV Valley Energy Center Final EIS provided in Appendix
F. The results of these evaluations are available on line at the CPV Valley Energy Center website
(www.cpvvalley.com).
7.4 Aesthetic Issues
CPV Valley is sited and designed in such a way to minimize visual impacts to the maximum extent
possible. CPV performed extensive analysis and assessment of aesthetic issues through the SEQRA
approval process. Locating the Project at the southern center portion of the Project site was
preferred, as it is placed proximate to nearby Route 6 and I-84 and proposed industrial properties,
thereby providing maximum buffer from nearby visual receptors. The air-cooled design was chosen
over a wet-cooling design for a number of reasons, including its elimination of cooling tower plumes.
The air-cooled condenser height was minimized so as not to increase the height of the stacks. The
electric transmission lines required to connect the Project to NYPA’s existing transmission
infrastructure will be placed underground to avoid the visual impacts associated with towers and
wires of an aboveground electrical interconnection.
The Final EIS contains visual simulations from various sensitive receptors identified by the SEQRA lead
agent. The simulations depicted the Project during leaf on and off conditions, as well as both night
and daytime simulations. The Final EIS also contains significant documentation on the visual analyses
conducted and steps taken to mitigate impacts. The Project design implemented a number of
techniques to avoid and minimize off-site visual impacts. The techniques are consistent with the
visual impact avoidance and mitigation tools recommended for consideration under NYSDEC’s visual
resources policy. These include design and siting; alternative cooling technologies; changes to the
profile or size of the facility; on-site screening and landscaping; coloring and texture of materials;
maintenance during operation. The Project design includes enclosing much of the facility components
inside buildings, minimizing stack height, preserving the natural vegetation to the extent practicable
and optimizing lighting options to mitigate impacts.
The existing natural vegetation, which provides large buffer areas surrounding the facility, and
proposed landscaping, will help shield full views of the facility from off site locations. Other
landscaping plans include adding trees and shrubs in select areas on the site. To the maximum
extent practical, mature shade trees, vegetation, and unique site features such as stone walls will be
preserved. The Project’s proposed lighting is designed to minimize off-site impacts, while providing
sufficient lighting to ensure worker safety during routine operations and maintenance.
7.5 Impacts on Real Estate
Impacts to real estate were evaluated in the SEQRA approval process. The Final EIS contains various
studies related to the location of power projects and local real estate values. Two specific studies
concluded that there were no negative impacts to property values in areas where power projects
were located. These studies are available at the CPV Valley Energy Center website.
7.6 Environmental Justice Considerations
During the SEQRA process, an Environmental Justice (EJ) analysis, which addresses potential impacts
to low-income and minority populations, was conducted for the CPV Valley Energy Center. The
results are contained in the Final EIS. The EJ analysis of the Project was conducted consistent with the
principles set forth in Executive Order 12898, entitled “Federal Actions to Address Environmental
New York Energy Highway
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