Chautauqua County is Going Green - Testing Plant Engines

MAYVILLE - National Grid will connect the county's methane-fired power plant to its lines in the next two weeks.

Completed last year, the plant was initially expected to be online as early as November or December. Once connected, the county can begin producing electricity for profit.

Edwards announced the news of the coming connection Monday in his weekly newsletter, which is available online at Chautauqua County Website

In anticipation of the long-awaited connection, the county will test the plant's engines on Friday, Feb. 12.

"The engines are impressive, and the 6.4 megawatts of electricity that will be produced at the plant will result in a profit of over $2 million per year to county taxpayers," Edwards wrote.

A pre-test review was conducted Tuesday in anticipation of firing up the plant's motors.

Concerns about the plant not yet being online were raised late last month by members of the Public Facilities Committee.

With $2 million in revenue included in the 2010 budget, legislators Thomas DeJoe, D-Brocton, and Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown, questioned what the continued delay will mean for the county's finances. Edwards addressed the issue at the meeting as well as in his Monday Morning Memo.

"Though the county is not yet producing electricity for profit, the methane gas is currently being burned through a flare - earning the county carbon credits," Edwards wrote. "The credits will help offset some of the money the county is losing as a result of the delay of putting our electricity on the grid."

According to Edwards and officials involved, the plant could have been online and generating electricity in recent months. The connection, however, has been delayed by National Grid. As such, Edwards said he has been working with local, state and federal officials to pressure National Grid to complete the connection. He named both Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-South Buffalo, as allies in the effort - credited with everything from having secured funding for the plant to pushing both New York state and National Grid to assist the county.

"When I became County Executive in 2006, the methane gas generated by our own landfill waste was identified as the largest un-utilized source of energy in the county," Edwards wrote. "I made it a top priority to use the methane gas to produce electricity, generate revenue and use that revenue to lower taxes for county residents."

With an ISO number now assigned to the project, Edwards said the county expects the plant will soon be connected and energy will begin moving from its generators onto National Grid's power lines.

GOING GREEN

Mentioning both Gov. David Paterson's State of the State Address as well as President Barack Obama's State of the Union, Edwards wrote about the priority being placed on developing green energy.

"Both Paterson and Obama have made it abundantly clear that green energy is a priority for not only New York state, but the nation," Edwards said. "I am hopeful we can attract green industries here to Chautauqua County by demonstrating our commitment to the environment with the example of the only county-owned power plant in New York state that produces electricity through the use of methane gas at our landfill.

"Green energy projects are a vital part of our future," Edwards continued. "This proves to business leaders across the country and around the world that we support green initiatives."

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