Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. - Energy Highway

CPV VALLEY ENERGY CENTER
much of the wetlands, approximately 0.33 acres of wetlands will be impacted. During the review of
the Joint Wetlands Application, CPV, NYDEC and ACOE developed an appropriate mitigation plan that
includes the creation of a wetland replacement area of 0.8 acres. Approximately 0.46 acres of
forested wetlands will be converted to non-forested along the electrical interconnection corridor.
Conversion of forested wetlands to non-forested wetlands within this corridor will be compensated
by creating a permanent forested buffer in another location on the Project site. These wetland
replication areas will also provide enhanced wildlife habitat functions for the site. The Final EIS and
Joint Wetlands Application are available on the CPV Valley website.
9.4 Environmental Impacts of Construction and Operation
Despite the positive environmental effects anticipated as a result of the Project, its construction and
operation will result in certain impacts. However, the majority of these impacts will be temporary,
and will result from construction activities. Site preparation (e.g., clearing, grading), and construction
of the facility (including the electrical interconnection and water and sewer connections) will have
short-term and localized impacts on the soil, water, agricultural, and ecological resources of the site.
This construction will also have short-term impacts on the local transportation system, air quality, and
noise levels. These impacts will largely result from the movement and operation of construction
equipment and vehicles, which will occur during the construction of the Project. The level of impact
and associated mitigation to each of these resources has been described in the Final EIS available on
the CPV Valley website. These impacts will generally be localized and/or of short duration.
9.5 Proposed Mitigation
The impacts and proposed mitigation for any impacts associated with CPV Valley were evaluated
through the SEQRA approval process. The various impacts associate with operation of the Project
include aesthetics, wetlands and emissions. There were several mitigation measures that were
implemented such as, locating the electric interconnection lines underground to avoid the visual
impacts, enclosing the equipment in building to mitigate visual impacts associated with the
equipment, location of the facility on the property to minimize impacts to wetlands, creation of
wetland replication areas to offset any wetland impacts, the purchase of emission reduction credits at
a ratio greater than 1 to 1 so as to achieve an overall net reduction of emissions in the region, etc.
The mitigation of impacts were developed throughout the SEQRA approval process and contained in
the Final EIS available on the CPV Valley website.
The Project has worked very closely with local, county and state representatives to ensure the least
intrusive design possible. Although the Project will create some impacts, CPV Valley has incorporated
numerous mitigation measures to further ensure preservation of the community and the
environmental attributes.
10.0 Project Contract/RFP Status
CPV’s Valley Energy Center has not participated in or made application to any other New York State
agency or authority in response to a Request for Proposals.
11.0 Public Outreach
11.1 Overview / Approach:
CPV has a proven track record of implementing successful public outreach programs around more
than a dozen major energy infrastructure projects across the United States and Canada. CPV partners
with communities by building strong working relationships with residents, civic groups, labor and local
elected officials to be a responsible neighbor sensitive to community values. CPV invests time in
developing public education and outreach campaigns to help local communities understand electricity
technology, the market backdrop, energy policy and the development process from start to finish.
This process includes meeting with interested parties and stakeholders in both formal and informal
New York Energy Highway
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