Empire Wind Backs Out of Alfred Plan
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Almost two years after looking into the potential of a wind farm in the Alfred area, Empire State Wind Energy of Oneida is no longer interested.
“The college has been informed by Empire State Wind Energy Corp. that it is no longer pursuing a commercial wind project in the community, which includes the college,” said John Anderson, Alfred State College president, in an email to the Alfred Wind Committee and local officials.
The college was going to provide an integral role in the project and supported placing 8-10 turbines on its property near the college farm off of State Route 244.
Anderson’s email further reads: “I met with Keith Pitman, CEO of Empire State Wind Energy Corp. and Tom Golisano last week where the decision was made. The primary reason for this decision was driven by the decline in wholesale electricity prices — a decline which began some 18 months ago and gives no indication at this time of rebounding. This information is based on a report generated by The New York Independent System Operator’s (NYISO) Wind Generation Study of June 2010.”
Anderson is friends with Golisano, a billionaire and ASC graduate that is Empire Wind’s co-founder.
“Although I am very disappointed by this turn of events, the college remains committed to aggressively pursuing other alternative energy sources,” said Anderson.
