Ellicottville, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York's push for new green and renewable energy sources has prompted a Chicago-based firm to move forward with a $1.3 billion project that will see 83 wind turbines developed in three rural Western New York counties.
InvEnergy LLC is working with officials from Cattaraugus, Wyoming and Allegany counties on the project that will be spread across more than 10,000 acres of privately-owned farm and vacant land.
The first of the turbines could be put into service by late 2026.
"This is a large investment that could lead to even more investments," said Corey Wiktor, County of Cattaraugus Industrial Development Agency executive director.
The County of Cattaraugus IDA is working with InvEnergy on a 20-year, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes package that could see as much as $30 million generated in new tax dollars.
"Clearly, the impact is big," Wiktor said.
The bulk of the project - some $618 million in private sector investment dollars and the development of at least 32 turbines in Farmersville, Freedom and Yorkshire - will take place in Cattaraugus County.
At $618 million, the InvEnergy project is the second largest private sector investment in Cattaraugus County trailing only the $750 million Great Lakes Cheese plant in Farmersville.
And, at $1.3 billion, the project is the largest three-county private sector investment for Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming counties.
At $1.3 billion, the project costs more than twice as much as Amazon is investing in its five-story regional distribution hub in the Town of Niagara.
Wiktor said more than 400 construction workers will be employed during the building process.
"It has a huge impact for the unions and tradesmen," Wiktor said.
Some preliminary work has started but the bulk of the construction will commence after the first of the year, Wiktor said.
And, it may lead to other private sector-backed green energy projects, Wiktor added.
"These investor notice who is easy to work with and who is not," Wiktor said.
Each of the turbines is more than 600 feet tall.
Energy produced by the turbines will go into the grid and made available for anyone or any business to purchase.
"The benefits will help a lot of people and businesses," Wiktor said.