Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (D-Theresa) is working with stakeholders as she drafts legislation that would protect Fort Drum’s training capabilities by excluding wind turbine developments surrounding the installation and its training grounds from receiving state subsidies.
Fort Drum, the largest single site employer in New York State, is the premier military training installation in the Northeastern United States.
"Fort Drum is one of the premier military installations in the United States and plays a critical role in our country's national defense," Assemblywoman Jenne, a senior member of the state Assembly's Energy and Agriculture committees, said.
"With approximately 10 new wind farms proposed or under construction around Fort Drum, their impact on training operations that translates to troop readiness and future mission readiness cannot be ignored," she added.
Assemblywoman Jenne, a long-time proponent of renewable energy, said she believes the state can meet its clean energy goals without jeopardizing the capabilities at Fort Drum.
"This important national defense asset cannot be taken for granted. I have grave concerns that the base, with its $1.2 billion annual impact on our state's economy, could be negatively impacted if neighboring wind turbine projects hamper its ability to operate efficiently and effectively," she stressed.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she has discussed the potential impact of additional wind farms near Fort Drum in recent weeks with community members, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Office (FDRLO) and representatives from the installation.
FDRLO Executive Director Brian Ashley indicated those conversations are ongoing. “The FDRLO welcomes the Assemblywoman’s voice on this crucial issue. Our mission is to protect and enhance Fort Drum's military value and anything that prevents our soldiers from training to the highest level of readiness is an unacceptable threat,” he said.
Assemblywoman Jenne stressed her concerns were not a 'not in my backyard' stance. "This is a crucial step necessary to ensure Fort Drum's long-term viability. That becomes even more important with word this week the Pentagon is supporting a proposal by the leadership of the Senate Armed Forces Committee to conduct another round of base closings in 2019," she said.
The assemblywoman said she expects to introduce legislation following additional briefings with members of Fort Drum's leadership and other stakeholders over the next few weeks.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she remains committed to the New York State energy standards plan that would reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by the year 2030.
"We should be doing everything we can to embrace an 'all of the above' approach to renewable energy production so that we continue to wean our nation off foreign oil and energy sources heavily polluting our environment," she said.
She is the prime Assembly sponsor on legislation that would support the growing renewable energy sector in New York, including a bill (A.7275) that would direct additional investment toward existing hydroelectric facilities to increase their generation with little additional environmental impact. Many of those dams are built in rivers located in or near the 116th Assembly District.
"We have to make it a priority to invest in our most reliable existing renewable energy assets already on line," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "Additionally, given the record rainfall we've experienced this year and the potential for increasingly severe weather events in the future, it is important for us to work with dam operators to ensure our infrastructure is well maintained and hardy. We are seeing the importance of properly maintaining our infrastructure in the aftermath of recent hurricanes.”
Assemblywoman Jenne is also sponsoring legislation (A.1540) that would require the state to prioritize long-term contracts of more than 20 years with renewable energy producers to further insulate these important assets to market volatility.
Another piece of legislation she sponsors would provide stability of the converted coal-fired biomass facilities at Fort Drum and indirectly support a cluster of biomass generators (A.8603). Fort Drum has actually led the way in supporting readiness compatible green energy production.
"No one is better able to understand the importance of renewable energy than the leadership at Fort Drum," Assemblywoman Jenne said. "Developing our green resources will, in the long term, reinvigorate our forestry industry, support jobs here in the North Country, improve our quality of life and allow our country to move closer to energy independence."
Assemblywoman Jenne stressed she is well aware of the many landowners, especially farmers, who have started looking at wind turbines as a source of additional income.
"While these wind farms are a threat to the readiness at Fort Drum, it's important to remember that many North Country residents are looking at them as a way to make ends meet in a challenging agricultural marketplace," she said.
"That is why I have supported efforts to compensate landowners that agree not to develop their land in ways that jeopardize training activities at Fort Drum. I am also working to secure funding specifically for landowners who will be negatively impacted by legislation that would exclude parts of the region from state wind subsidies,” she added.
"I believe we can strike a balance for the North Country that reflects our historic support of national defense and our largest economic sector - agriculture. Upstate New York, the North Country in particular, is a leading generator of green energy. Instead of investing in industrial wind in the Fort Drum region, I am confident that our commitment to biomass, solar, legacy hydro plants and other green energy sources will create at least as many jobs while helping meet the state’s clean energy targets," Assemblywoman Jenne noted.