Sen. Schumer Pushes For Renewable Energy Projects At County Landfill

Projects At Facility Will Create Jobs & Stimulate Local Economy; Department of Energy Grant Would Allow Ontario County to Develop Array of Renewable Energy Projects

October 13, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he has written to the Department of Energy in support of an application submitted by Ontario County for funding under the Community Renewable Energy Deployment Grant Program. The funding will enable Ontario County to transform the Ontario County Landfill into a renewable energy production and educational facility.

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“Now more than ever it is critical that we support renewable energy projects to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and find new sources of revenue and job growth,” said Schumer. “This grant, if approved, would allow Ontario County to develop a variety of renewable energy projects that would save people money, create jobs and provide a model for other communities to reduce their carbon footprint and jump start their economy.”

Ontario County plays a major role in supporting and contributing to the regional economy in upstate New York. The county faces environmental, economic, energy, and national security challenges that have the potential to dramatically reshape the waste industry and spur the development of renewable energy technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing this opportunity, Ontario County applied for a U.S. Department of Energy grant to transform the County Landfill into a model renewable energy production and education facility.

The funding, which could range between $5 million and $7 million, would allow Ontario County to develop an array of cutting edge wind, solar, and landfill gas renewable energy projects at the Ontario County Landfill in Seneca, New York. The projects will create jobs, help stimulate and promote Ontario County’s local economy, and provide a means for investment in a renewable energy infrastructure, setting a landfill transformation model for other communities to follow.

To help secure the grant funding for Ontario County, Schumer wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu urging him to support their application to develop renewable energy projects at the Ontario County Landfill.

In the letter Schumer wrote, “These opportunities will create jobs, help stimulate and promote Ontario County’s local economy, and I applaud Ontario County for its foresight.”

A full copy of the letter is below:

September 27, 2009

The Honorable Dr. Steven Chu

Secretary

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20585

Dear Secretary:

I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by Ontario County for funding under the Community Renewable Energy Deployment Grant Program. Such funding will enable Ontario County to transform the Ontario County Landfill into a renewable energy production and educational facility.

Located in the heart of the New York Finger Lakes region, spanning from Rochester to Syracuse, Ontario County plays a major role in supporting and contributing to the regional economy in upstate New York. Environmental, economic, energy, and national security challenges have the potential to dramatically reshape the waste industry, spurring the development of renewable energy technologies that ultimately help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ontario County understands this and has proposed to transform its Ontario County Landfill into a model renewable energy production and education facility.

With funding, Ontario County will work with its development partners to develop an array of cutting edge wind, solar, and landfill gas renewable energy projects at the Ontario County Landfill in Seneca, New York. The landfill will include a landfill gas to electricity facility, wind garden, solar array, and bio-gas pipeline. These opportunities will create jobs, help stimulate and promote Ontario County’s local economy, and provide a means for investment in a renewable energy infrastructure, setting a landfill transformation model for other communities to follow. I applaud Ontario County for its foresight, and I hope the application for funding meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration. For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington office at 202.224.6542.

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Source: Senator Charles E. Schumer