The New York State siting board has granted approval to Alle-Catt Wind Energy (Alle-Catt) to build and operate a wind farm in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Wyoming counties.

The Alle-Catt 340-megawatt (MW) wind project will consist of up to 116 wind turbines, with associated underground collection and substation systems and related infrastructure in the towns of Arcade (13 turbines), Centerville (36 turbines), Farmersville (21 turbines), Freedom (33 turbines) and Rushford (13 turbines) in the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming.

The project will produce enough electricity to power 134.000 homes annually.

“In keeping with governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ambitious goals for carbon reduction and for a clean-energy economy, we must develop the clean energy resources in New York State needed to help all New Yorkers. Our decision today to approve the largest wind farm to date will help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and demonstrates that renewable energy works in New York and helps move us toward a clean energy future.”

John B. Rhodes, siting board chair.

Alle-Catt Wind and other wind and solar projects currently under construction are critical to achieving the ambitious carbon reduction and renewable energy goals set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

The Alle-Catt project has been under review since December 2017.

The facility will be located on about 30.000 acres of privately leased land, allowing landowners to continue existing land use.

The $454 million project will have a significant economic effect on the host communities, including a construction workforce of about 182 workers with a $15 million payroll, and would provide up to 13 permanent jobs during the facility’s operation.

The project will deliver economic benefits through direct job creation, generate revenue for local governments through payments in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreements, and provide income for participating landowners through lease and other agreements.