Schoharie County supervisors threw their support behind a proposed hydroelectric project at the Gilboa Dam that could provide electricity for 10,000 homes.
Their action came after Greg Starheim of the Delaware County Electric Cooperative presented the proposal, which may draw opposition from New York City.
Speaking to the full Board of Supervisors, Mr. Starheim said the cooperative has planned hydroelectric projects at four City-owned reservoirs: Schoharie, Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted the cooperative’s preliminary permit application this week, Mr. Starheim said.
Called the Western Catskills Hydro Project, the four plants would produce 65 megawatts of electricity. About 23 megawatts would come from the Gilboa project, said Mr. Starheim, the cooperative’s CEO.
The electricity would go to cooperative members in Delaware, Otsego, Chenango and Schoharie counties. The cooperative serves Jefferson, Gilboa and part of Summit.
The cooperative’s electric rates are typically 30 percent less than those charged by major power companies, Mr. Starheim said, and the new projects would allow expansion.
“We anticipate 100 percent [of the new power] staying locally,” Mr. Starheim said after the meeting.
“Our intent is to serve a greater population.”
The low-cost power would first go to municipalities and schools to reach the broadest population and could eventually serve 10,000 homes, he said.
The projects would run on overflow from the dams. At Gilboa, four siphons would bring excess water to a powerhouse with four turbine generators.
Because the project would depend on seasonal overflow, it wouldn’t affect the drinking water New York City gets from the reservoir, Mr. Starheim said.
Nonetheless, the City’s Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the Upstate reservoirs, may intervene in the review process.
“We do not want to propose anything that would be challenged by DEP and New York City,” Mr. Starheim said.
“This wouldn’t interrupt water to the City.”
Mr. Starheim planned to contact DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd Monday to schedule a meeting. He also wants to meet with City Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler.
“We hope New York City works with us,” Mr. Starheim said. “I’m very hopeful they will.”
He has an ally in Senator Charles Schumer, who earlier this month urged Ms. Lloyd to collaborate with the cooperative’s plans.
“I encourage your office to work proactively with the Cooperative in order to develop this exciting partnership and provide a much needed new source of renewable energy to our state,” Senator Schumer wrote.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Earl Van Wormer echoed that sentiment in supporting the resolution to back the project.
“We have to see what we can do to bring the cost of energy down in Schoharie County,” Mr. Van Wormer said.
Supervisors unanimously passed the resolution.
Mr. Starheim said the cooperative could receive its license for the project in 2011 and be on line in 2011-12.
“There’s a lot of work still to be done,” he said.