Coxsackie greenlights hydroelectricity project

The $3 billion infrastructure project will be one of the largest investments in New York state history and will be privately funded, according to the company’s website.

The project will pass through the village of Coxsackie on Bailey Street at the railroad tracks, Mayor Mark Evans said.

“I believe they’re going to bore it all, so the impact is even less overall,” Evans said. “One nice thing, which I didn’t even know about until recently, is that there’s actually some tax revenue in it for the village and the school district. It will be a very minimal impact and we get some money from it, so that’s even better.”

The energy will not be distributed to the local community, Evans said.

“We don’t get anything here, unfortunately,” he said. “That’s the only bad thing.”

The 60-year project is expected to generate $1.7 billion in revenue for local municipalities over the first 30 years. The lines will transport hydroelectricity through several municipalities including Coeymans, Ravena, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, Bethlehem, Voorheesville, Athens and Catskill.

Transmission Developers Inc., are also proposing an allocation of $117 million over 35 years to a trust fund for habitat protection in the Hudson River and Lake Champlain.

By taking the lines underground and underwater, the company can avoid visual impacts to the communities. If the line is damaged, it will be immediately detected and the electric current will be halted, according to the website.

Transmission Developers Inc. has received permits from the state Public Service Commission, U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is expected to begin construction in 2021.

The project is expected to alleviate power needs in New York City and save New Yorkers $12.8 billion in energy costs over 30 years.

The proposal also aligns the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which calls for the state to convert to 70% renewable energy by 2030 and to 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2040.

Another company eyeing energy needs in New York City is the Iroquois Gas Transmission System.

Iroquois’ Enhancement by Compression project will increase compression and cooling capacity at its existing compressor stations, including one located in Athens.

The greater supply of natural gas will facilitate conversions from oil to natural gas, according to the company website. The project, expected to be operational in 2023, will use existing pipeline beginning in Waddington, traveling through New York and Connecticut to New York City.

To combat emissions, Iroquois is proposing to install low nitrous oxide turbine units to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 40%, oxidation catalysts to reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 90% and methane recovery systems to reduce methane emissions.

Iroquois’ application is before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.