BAINBRIDGE – The Town of Bainbridge may once again be home to a power generating facility – a revived project that would give a huge boost to local employment and create an attractive energy resource for future economic prospects, local officials say.
“The community is very excited about the possibility of this site being selected,” said Town Supervisor Rick Chase. “I hope things go our way.”
In response to a request made by the New York Power Authority Sept. 1, the AES Corporation said it developed and submitted a bid as of Oct. 31 outlining the construction of a clean coal generation facility that could produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity. That electricity would then be purchased by the power authority under a contract that could extend up to 20 years. The call comes as part of outgoing Governor George Pataki’s “Advanced Clean Coal Power Plant Initiative,” AES states in a press release.
“AES’s proposed facilities will help New York meet its growing demands for electricity while also helping the state achieve its environmental and economic development goals,” said Pete Norgeot, President of AES Eastern Energy.
A company representative said the plant would initially create up to 1,500 construction jobs for up to a 3 to 4 year period, and eventually demand up to 150 full-time employees to run it. Once operating, officials say the facility could possibly add between $20 to $25 million in gross annual income for the area.
“If approved we look forward to working with all the stakeholders in the community to bring this development forward,” said AES spokesman Chris Wentlent from the Johnson City office. “It’s an excellent re-use of an existing industrial site, and the area could potentially have opportunities for other development.”
Wentlent said there were five proposals submitted to the power authority by other companies that would mostly be housed in the western part of the state. He said AES is confident in the Bainbridge site, which would be located at the Jennison facility (owned and previously operated by AES) on state Route 7, because of its existing infrastructure, its central location in New York state, and the community backing the project has already received. Wentlent expects a decision to come down from the power authority by mid-December.
“Losing the plant before was pretty devastating, along with loss of other industries that have since left,” Chase said, referring to the closure of the Jennison plant around the year 2000, and the loss of the Elmer’s Glue Factory. “I think we have a very good chance, one of the big factors is our central location in the grid. That’s a real big plus in our favor.”
AES is also proposing a second clean coal site to NYPA, located in Niagara County.
Chenango County Industrial Development Director Dave Hall said that aside from being bigger, environmentally cleaner and more technologically advanced, the new Jennison site will also help lower wholesale energy costs in this area, provide cheaper delivery of energy to other parts of the state, and offer prospective businesses a number of energy related incentives to locate near the facility.
“This would be a huge win for Bainbridge and Chenango County, along with Broome County as well,” said Hall.
The plant would produce energy by burning coal, with the capability to capture 90 percent of its Carbon Dioxide emissions.
Hall said the IDA got involved with the project a few months ago after being contacted by state Assemblymen Cliff Crouch (R-Guilford). He added that AES will probably be filing a Payment in Lieu Of Tax (PILOT) agreement if and when the project is given the bid by the power authority, and that the IDA will be one of the agencies involved in the siting process if the project is accepted.