I. Situation

EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. is a New York City-based developer of utility-grade wind projects throughout the U.S. They are owned by Terra Firma, a private equity firm in the U.K. The company is developing a $160 million, 29-turbine wind farm in Allegany, N.Y., a rural town in the southwest corner of New York State.  A small, well organized group of local citizens utilized numerous tactics to prevent the project from gaining town and county approval.  During much of 2011, Travers Collins worked with EverPower officials from the company’s Pittsburgh, Pa. and NYC offices to help push the project forward in the face of NIMBY (not in my back yard) opposition.

II. Execution 

TC helped broker outreach to business leaders, civic groups, the local construction and hospitality industries, media and elected officials to educate them on the facts of the project and wind energy, while dispelling myths perpetuated by those opposed. TC commissioned a survey that found nearly 65 percent of Allegany residents either supported or remained neutral on the issue. These results affirmed the vocal opposition was indeed a minority and provided town officials assurance most town residents were not opposed.

As part of the effort to “get the facts out,” TC developed various materials, explaining the project’s financial benefits to local municipalities, the economic impact on local businesses, the temporary and permanent jobs the project would create, and the environmental benefits of wind energy using peer-reviewed studies. TC also worked with EverPower to give third party advocates a voice on the issue through editorials submitted to the local newspaper.

III. Results

The Allegany town board approved the project by a 4-1 vote in late August. In November, a state Supreme Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of project opponents.  In December, the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency approved the project and a payment-in-lieu- of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. Preliminary site development has begun with construction expected to start in spring 2012.