Town of Cohocton

GOLISANO: COHOCTON CAN CONTROL ITS OWN DESTINY:

Officials from Empire State Wind Energy LLC unveiled a business plan that they believe would give community members a larger piece of the revenue-sharing pie.

On Wednesday, more than 50 residents gathered at Cohocton elementary school for an informational session hosted by Keith Pitman - president and chief executive officer of the Oneida-based company - as well as B. Thomas Golisano, a Rochester billionaire who is also the company's main investor.

Golisano said his interest was kindled when he first picked up a newspaper article about wind farm development, talked to several people and researched it, and found there's a substantial economic benefit.
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“I thought it would be a heck of an idea to be the owner of a wind farm,” he said, questioning “what would happen if the wind turbine company was owned by the community?

“I thought the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program was so minimal it was a disgrace,” Golisano added. “I decided to start an organization and a way to help.”

Pitman introduced himself by saying he takes pride living in rural upstate New York and also was influenced by an article.

“Big wind. Big energy. Big wind power. Big money. Wind power can significantly improve a community's local economy if it is locally owned,” he read from an excerpt from Rural Features, a state bi-partisan publication.

Pitman said the basic model was simple: To create projects that are beneficial to the entire community with 100 percent of the start-up costs covered by Empire State Wind Energy. Later, and at pre-determined times, the Town of Cohocton would have ownership options.