July 19, 2001

Michael Ball, BERC

Rob Berridge, M&T Bank

Scott Bulera, Turner Construction

Lorraine Clemente, Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation

Marc Coppola, Delaware District Councilman

MaryAnne Coyle

John Deibel, Deibel’s Farm

Joe DeMare, NYS Alternative Energy Corporation

Siobhan Doherty, Intern with Bill Nowak

Mark N. Donahue, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise

Drew Eszak, Erie County

David Hahn-Baker, Inside Out Political Consultants

Tim Hughes, C&S Engineers

Darin Huseby, SeaWest WindPower

Michael Leising, Legislator William A Pauly’s Office

Mike Lodick, Secure Environmental Electronics Recycling

Randi Mail, Green Gold’s Project Coordinator

Mark Mitskovski, Erie County Dept Environment & Planning

Bill Nowak, Common Council Legislative Staff Manager

James Pitts, Common Council President

Gary Robinson, URS Greiner

Linda Thomas, Ecology & Environment

Darryl Tills, Quality 1st Appliance Center

Darlene Vogel, Partnership for Urban Resources & the Environment

Gary Witulski, Office of Strategic Planning

Len Wrona, Erdman Anthony

Ed Zielinski, www.environment-buffalo.org

SeaWest expects to undertake a year-long environmental impact study to assess potential effects on native and migratory birds. Currently, the company is negotiating with utilities to buy power from the wind project. Utility companies are needed to blend the wind power with overall system power. Wind power cannot be used as the sole power source because of insufficient reliability. However, utilities can use wind as a substitute for other sources of energy.

SeaWest develops and operates wind power projects, but does not act as owners. They have excellent relationships with leading turbine manufacturing firms and an extensive list of financial partners. 6-10 wind- "smiths" typically staff an on-site maintenance facility. SeaWest has recently developed an 85 MW project in Wyoming, which will soon increase to over 100 MW and a 45.5 MW project in San Gorgino, CA.

Nationally, New York is ranked 15^th in terms of wind power resources and the American Wind Association estimates that NY’s total wind potential is 62 billion-kilowatt hours per year. Additionally, wind coming off Lake Erie offers WNY an incredible resource. SeaWest is interested in several waterfront locations for the turbines: on the breakwaters, offshore and on brownfield sites. Wind turbines in Europe are often built offshore, while this would be the first offshore and truly urban project in the United States.

Green Gold strongly believes that this project could be very beneficial to the region. Demand and interest in renewable energy is growing fast. Wind power is not subject to fuel price fluctuations and can therefore be considered a hedge against volatile fuel prices. Additionally, on June 10, 2001 Governor Pataki announced the formation of a NYS Greenhouse Gas Task Force and Executive order encouraging alternative energy production by mandating that all state agencies purchase 10% of the overall state facility energy requirements by 2005. This percentage is to increase to 20% by 2010.

This project would create jobs through the construction and maintenance and engage local contractors. With this initiative, SeaWest could help bring new renewable energy manufacturing opportunities to Buffalo by introducing local companies to alternative technology firsthand. .

John Deibel of Deibel Farms presented on the Compost Network of Western New York. Deibel Farms in East Aurora sells fresh produce and compost.

When President Clinton re-authorized the Clean Water Act, the USDA and EPA started collaborating on the design of a workable program to monitor and keep animal feeding operations in balance with the nutrients they produce. This program is called a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. The two principal nutrients to be balanced are nitrogen and phosphorus. Computer models calculated Use vs. Waste of these nutrients and determined that twice as much phosphorus as nitrogen was being produced. Therefore it was necessary to get rid of the surplus by:

• maximizing the forage in an animal’s diet
• increasing the acreage for manure use and exporting the additional crops
• reducing the import of nutrients and purchased feed costs
• keeping the acreage of crops the same and exporting the surplus manure

This is where the Compost Network plays an important role. It connects farmers in the region to help balance their nutrient needs. It provides farmers the opportunity to export a portion of their nutrients to meet the mass nutrient balance, increase efficiency, avoid marketing, processing, handling costs and keep their facility small. It provides the opportunity for markets to purchase custom blended and processed compost to meet individual needs.

The Compost Network is currently exploring the possibility to use animal excrement from the Buffalo Zoo. Three additional farms in the area also act as compost demonstration sites: Rich-a-Lu Farms, Handy Farms and Thorpe Farms.

Councilman Coppola presented on a City of Buffalo project to expand district heating and install a co-generation plant. An recent RFP called for expansion of the City’s district heating system that currently serves 8 downtown buildings. The City wants to hire a private company to expand district heating throughout the downtown area apart from the existing system. Significant interest exists to coordinate this expansion with the new school construction, the Adelphia building and waterfront development projects.

RFP responses were plentiful and from around the world. Interested companies will perform yearlong feasibility studies. On July 23, 2001 proposals are to be reviewed and meetings will be held every Wednesday in August in 1417 City Hall. At August’s end, there will be presentations and interviews. NYSERDA has offered a $30,000 investment in the project.

Additionally, Council President Pitts submitted a resolution exploring the potential to install co-generator plant at the Memorial Auditorium. The proposal was sent to the Council’s Energy Committee for review and development. Alternative fuels such as natural gas, methane and municipal wastes are also being studied.

No meeting in August, next meeting September 6th