In the News

Below are articles and other news published since the last West Valley Citizen Task Force Meeting. They relate to the West Valley Demonstration Project, nuclear waste cleanup or are otherwise relevant or of potential interest to stakeholders interested in the Project. After each Citizen Task Force Meeting, these articles are compiled into a single document and may be found with the meeting materials for that month.

Springville Times – Progress for potential solar farm in Concord continues

September 20, 2019 – An update to the potential project to install a solar farm in Erie County with some of it located in the town of Concord was given to the Concord Town Board during its most recent meeting Sept. 12.

Ryan Storke, of Storke, LLC, told the board that the 350-megawatt solar project, which has been cleared by the New York independent System Operator (NYISO), has been submitted to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for bid approval. Link to article

Springville Journal – Concord board hears updates on Genesee Road Solar & Town of Colden earns Clean Energy Community Designation

September 19, 2019

First article: As the proposed Genesee Road Solar Energy Center in Concord and Sardinia continues to move forward, the Concord Town Board, at its Sept. 12 meeting, heard updates on the project. Ryan Storke from Storke, LLC made a presentation to the board about the Solar Energy Center and what could be coming to the town.

Second article: The Town of Colden has announced that it has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, recognizing its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally.

Link to articles

Olean Times Herald – IDA accepts HoliMont application for sales tax breaks to get back on the grid

September 11, 2019 – HoliMont wants to get back on the grid.

After nearly two decades of operating its own powerhouse, providing electricity to operate North America’slargest private ski resort, HoliMont operators are looking to again purchase power from National Grid.

Ed Youmans, general manager, presented a request to the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency for sales tax exemption for $948,000 in purchases, including about $450,000 to get back on the grid. The sales tax breaks for the project are about $76,000. Link to article

DOE EM Update – Vit Facility Demolition is West Valleyʹs Signature Achievement ‐ So Far

September 12, 2019 – In 2018, EM and its cleanup contractor safely completed the demolition of the 50-foot-tall, 10,000-square-foot Vitrification Facility at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP).

The take-down of the Vitrification Facility represented the largest and most complex demolition of a radioactively contaminated facility at the WVDP to date, and was a key accomplishment in the progress to decommission the site. Link to update

DOE EM Update – West Valley Workers Receive Impromptu Fire Safety Training

September 10, 2019 – EM and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently held unannounced safety exercises for employees using a fire extinguisher training simulator.

Representatives from CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley’s (CHBWV) training and emergency management departments drove around the site asking employees to participate in a simulated fire scenario at random. Workers described actions they would take in the event of a fire, using the simulator to extinguish a vehicle fire. Link to Update