by Karen K. Delmonico President & CEO
The northern NY region which includes Jefferson, Lewis, St Lawrence, Oswego, and Franklin Counties is the leader in energy generation in the state, producing much more energy than is consumed. This region boasts a significant number of renewable and alternative energy projects and has many more positioned to begin.
Projects from hydro to nuclear, from wind to solar, and from biomass to ethanol production are scattered throughout the counties, with new projects using environmentally friendly technologies being considered all the time. Some of the existing and proposed projects, by county, include:
Jefferson County:
- Development Authority of the North Country’s methane to electricity facility
- A methane digester at a large agricultural site.
- A photovoltaic facility
- A bio-mass production facility
- 16) Hydro plants on the Black and Indian Rivers
- (4) Proposed wind generation projects
Lewis County:
- Maple Ridge Wind Farm on Tug Hill with 195 wind turbines
- Proposed expansion of an additional 39 new wind turbines
- Bio-mass facility that burns wood chips to produce energy
- (16) Hydro facilities on the Beaver, Moose, Deer and Black Rivers
- Proposed community bio-fuel project that will turn farm waste into methanol
St Lawrence County
- A wood pellet production facility
- A methane digester for dairy waste
- A bio-mass boiler at a public school
- An extensive hydro system which includes 32 hydro stations on the St Lawrence, Oswagatchie and Raquette Rivers
- Clarkson University’s Technology Advancement Center featuring a multitude of energy efficient technologies
- Many proposed energy projects county-wide
Oswego County
- (3) Nuclear power plants and a proposed additional 1600 mw facility
- An ethanol production facility
- (9) Hydro plants located on the Oswego and Salmon Rivers
Franklin County
- Noble Environmental Power Wind Farm with 72 wind turbines located in Chateaugay
- (13) more proposed for Belmont
- (2) two proposed solar projects
- (5) hydro facilities on the Salmon, Saranac and St Regis Rivers
- Proposed bio-mass facility with large industrial applications
With the burgeoning interest in renewable energy, both nationally and state-wide, we have an opportunity to develop this industry in ways that will benefit us all. The Jefferson-Lewis-St Lawrence-Oswego-Franklin Counties region is uniquely positioned to develop additional renewable and alternative energy products and facilities because of their significant capacity for utilizing biologically-related energy sources in addition to the availability of large parcels of land.
As a result, the Greater Watertown- North Country Chamber of Commerce under the direction of current Chairman Paul Barton, have begun to brand this region as the Energy Valley of New York State. This energy brand will assist with economic development activities and the further development of alternative and renewable energy in northern New York, the Chamber is hoping to gain state recognition for Jefferson, Lewis, St Lawrence, Oswego, and Franklin Counties region as the Energy Valley of New York State.
by Gordie Little
How many of us have taken the time to realize the tremendous amount of electrical power generated along our region’s waterways? It’s one of the things we know somewhere in the back of our memories, but might have taken for granted. Perhaps we can help to bring this vital subject closer to the forefront.
There is a Toronto-based Canadian company that has put its name on numerous “green” projects in our region and thelist has grown almost exponentially over the years.
Brookfield Renewable Power, wholly owned by Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated, bills itself as a wholesale generator of renewable power. It is a leading producer and developer of renewable
power focused on hydroelectric and wind technologies with more than $10 billion of assets owned and under management.
The company also boasts about its1,000 employees in Canada, the United States and Brazil. Company information says, “Brookfield has over 100 years of experience as an owner, operator and developer of hydroelectric power facilities. Its portfolio includes more than 160 generating facilities with over 3,900 megawatts of capacity, of which 95 percent is sourced from renewable energy. It also has a 6,500 megawatt hydroelectric and wind project pipeline. Brookfield Renewable Power’s operations are primarily located here in North America and Brazil.” Their geographically diverse operations involve a total of 63 river systems.
Spokesperson Julie Smith-Galvinsupplied information that explains further: “That simply means that we own and sell power to utilities on the open electricity market, not directly to the retail customer. In the United States, the vast majority of our power is made from hydroelectric facilities, 75 of which are in New York State — including 27 in St. Lawrence, five in Jefferson and nine in Lewis Counties. Brookfield Renewable Power is owned by Brookfield Asset Management, which invests in long-life infrastructure assets, like power generation, commercial property, timber transmission, etc.” The 75 hydroelectric facilities here in New York State produce an estimated 702 megawatts of power. The vast majority of the power generated at Brookfield facilities annually is labeled as hydroelectric.
By way of company history, Smith- Galvin’s information said, “The company dates back to the early 1900’s and the Sao Tramway, Light and Power Company in Brazil, which was later incorporated in
Canada and embarked on Canadian power projects. The company made its first U. S. acquisition in 2002 in Maine and has since grown to 100 hydroelectric stations located in nine states, the majority in New York.”
Brookfield has come to be defined as a leading renewable energy company and Smith-Galvin was asked to explain and she did. “Brookfield has stayed focused on operating and acquiring high quality renewable energy facilities. We take seriously our responsibility to protect the natural resources that are entrusted to us try hard to balance power needs with community and recreational interests. For
example, simultaneously with providing power that helps NY meet its clean energy goals, we offer over 50 recreational areas for public enjoyment of the rivers where we operate.”
The company claims to be one of North America’s lowest-cost producers of electricity with its long history of profitable hydroelectric operation. What does that mean to you and me and the rest of
our neighbors here in Northern New York? Brookfield’s answer: “It means that we have consistently and efficiently harnessed New York’s water-power to provide enough clean, domestic power for the equivalent of over 500,000 households each year. Since acquiring most of the NY facilities in 2005, we have invested over tens of millions of dollars in direct project improvements. With renewable, climate friendly power in higher demand these days, our hydropower facilities represent an important part of New York’s energy mix.”
Besides harnessing vast area resources to produce hydropower, Brookfield has included capturing the wind to make electricity as well. Smith-Galvin explained, “Brookfield is one of the largest generators of wind in Canada. We are interested in exploring wind in the United States, but do not have any projects in advanced development in New York at this time.
The name of the company has changed several times over the years. It went from Great Lake Power Incorporated to Brascan Incorporated in late 2004. It was later changed from Brascan to Brookfield Power Incorporated in 2006 and most recently to Renewable Power. Meanwhile, Brookfield and its acquisitions here in the northeastern portion of the United States have continued to grow.
In 2003, they received certification for eight hydropower facilities on the Beaver River. In 2004, the company acquired 171hydroelectric power-generating plants on six river systems in New York State. Many of them are in our area. To gain certification the company had to “demonstrate that the projects meet rigorous, low impact criteria addressing river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed health, endangered species protection, cultural resources, along with recreation use and access.”
The company says it considers this region “fertile ground” for continued growth. With its long background in hydropower, Brookfield says it has built up a unique kind of expertise in that field.
Brookfield has been around for a century and most hydroelectric projects are alsoexpected to last that long and possibly longer, according to Brookfield experts on the subject. Hydroelectric projects have proved themselves to be good long-term solutions to the great need for renewable energy.
As for its main focus for the future, Brookfield Renewable Power said it will be threefold — hydroelectric facilities, transmission infrastructure and wind development. There are few rivers here in New York’s North Country that do not either have hydro facilities now or plans for future such development.
The hydropower facilities that make up this region’s Brookfield assets are a significant portion of the economy, pouring huge amounts of daily electrical energy into the system.
A news release from the Low Impact Hydropower Institute explained the Brookfield Certification Applications for two area projects a couple years ago. They are the Black River and Oswego River projects, both good examples of Brookfield assets in this region.
There are six hydropower dams and powerhouses in the Black River Project, all of which are located between Watertown and an area west of Carthage. They are operated automatically to maintain
a continuous flow through the entireproject. The Black River basin drains parts of the western Adirondack Mountain slopes along with sizeable portions of the nearby Tug Hill Plateau. The Black River rolls on for well over 100 miles from the Adirondacks to Lake Ontario, with are rapids and waterfalls along the way.
The Oswego River begins at the confluence of the Seneca and Oneida Rivers and runs almost 24 miles to Lake Ontario. The Oswego project also has a number of hydroelectric facilities.
Other rivers are likewise represented in the hydropower picture. In 2007 the Hewittsville and Unionville hydroelectric generating stations on the Racquette River in the Town of Potsdam were purchased by Brookfield with power going onto the National Grid.
Brookfield Renewable Power lists some of its primary keys to success, including “Strong corporate values combined with operational excellence, high safety standards, strong sustainable development practices, cooperation and contribution to long-term planning and policy, healthy First Nations and community relations and being responsible corporate citizens.”
There are many renewable sources of power and the general consensus is that all of those known and those yet to be discovered must be pursued. The river power provided in our portion of New York’s North Country ranks high on the list and has for many decades.
Tom Smith, general manager for Brookfield’s St. Lawrence Region, says he is especially proud of the safety milestones his employees have reached over the years. The St. Lawrence operations are based in Potsdam. They boast a proactive safety committee that was formed back in 1993. Smith said, “The committee helps keep safety in the forefront of all employees’
minds.”
The hydropower plants in the St. Lawrence region feature almost five dozen turbines on many of the region’s rivers. The power produced is clean and green and these plants hum along 365 days a year with most of us paying them only minimal notice.
Perhaps after learning the Brookfield Renewable Power story, we’ll all pay a lot more attention as we drive around our beautiful part of this green earth.
As milestones go, the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project is about as good as it gets. On June 24 of this year, the Power Authority’s first generating facility celebrated its golden anniversary. Read more
The average price for a barrel of oil in 1998, just ten short years ago, was $11.91. On June 7, the price of light crude soared to $138.54 a barrel. This is bad, and by all predictions, it’s going to get worse. The age of cheap oil is over.
As prices rise, developing alternative fuel sources will be important. But even more important, and more urgent, is reducing our energy consumption through efficiency and conservation. Saving energy is cheaper than buying energy. Unfortunately, a lot of energy we purchase goes to waste. With our leaky homes and buildings and inefficient lighting, appliances and vehicles, we are literally paying to heat (and pollute) the out-of-doors. Read more
It’s high time we pay closer attention to our earth and how to save it. Ann Heidenreich, Executive Director of Community Energy Services in Canton has a few ideas. And it all started with a handful of passion and patience. Read more
The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce has been providing energy savings to participating North Country businesses through our Chamber Energy AllianceSM program, a consortium of chambers across New York State that joined together to create a large and effective group buying pool for our members. This consortium has grown from the founding two chambers of commerce (the Greater Watertown Chamber was one of the pioneers!) in Y2000 to the current count of 17 chambers, and now provides electric and natural gas discounts to over 1,100 businesses, at a total savings of $10,000,000. Read more
The skyrocketing cost of energy is on everyone’s mind and making a dent in everyone’s budget these days. As the North Country braces for another long, cold winter, a group of energy professionals recently gathered to offer ideas and resources on how to save money and increase energy efficiency.
There is a lot of interest - on the part of both huge international corporations and local organizations - in harnessing the power of the North Country’s abundant winds as an alternative energy source.
Pellets are being talked about a lot these days - growing them, making them, selling them and burning them. North Country advocates say pellets can provide many opportunities for the region.
By virtue of its position at the end of the transmission line, Lake Placid is always faced with a finite supply of electricity. At the same time, the community faces continuous growth pressure. Because of its situation, this Adirondack community has had to be innovative about energy conservation; North Country communities can learn from its lessons.
