THE VILLAGE OF ARCADE, NEW YORK AND NOBLE ALLEGANY WINDPARK, LLC DIRECT ...

102 Pages·2008·3.32 MB·English

THE VILLAGE OF ARCADE, NEW YORK

AND

NOBLE ALLEGANY WINDPARK, LLC

DIRECT TESTIMONY

115 kV TRANSMISSION LINE

CENTERVILLE TO YORKSHIRE
STATE OF NEW YORK
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Case 08-T-__ - Application of the Village of Arcade and
Noble Allegany Windpark, LLC for a
Certificate of Environmental Compatibility
and Public Need for the Construction and
Operation of the Centerville to Yorkshire
liS kV Transmission Project Pursuant to
Article VII of the Public Service Law
DIRECT TESTIMONY OF

PANEL: CHARLES R. READLING/MICHAEL E. GUSKI

ON BEHALF OF

NOBLE ALLEGANY WINDPARK, LLC

AND THE VILLAGE OF ARCADE

Dated: June 27, 2008
eRR/MEG
TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLING/MICHAEL E. GUSKI
I Q. Please state your name, title and business address.
2 A. Charles R. Readling, Noble Environmental Power, LLC, 7294 Centerville
0 Road, Bliss, New York.
j
4 Q. Please summarize your educational and professional background.
5 A. I am the Director of Development at Noble. I have an Associates degree in
6 science/engineering, a B.A. in business management from North Carolina
7 State University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke
8 University. At Noble, I am responsible for the development and operation of
9 wind energy electric facilities. Prior to joining Noble, I had ten years
10 experience in the telecommunications equipment and information technology
II industries.
12 Q. Does your curriculum vitae fairly and accurately describe your experience?
13 A. Yes. It is attached to the profiled testimony.
14 Q. What was your role in the Centerville to Yorkshire transmission line project'?
IS A. I am the project manager for Noble Allegany, LLC's proposed Centerville to
16 Yorkshire 115 kV transmission project. The application is made with our eo­
17 applicants, the Village of Arcade, which is a public power community. Noble
18 retained Epsilon Associates, Inc. to assist in analysis of the proposed project
19 and subsequently to assist in the preparation of the materials necessary for a
20 New York State Public Service Law Article VII filing for a Certificate of
21 Environmental Compatibility and Public Need ("Certificate"). Epsilon in
22 turn retained certain subcontracting professionals to assist in connection
CRR/MFG-I
TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLINGIMICHAEL E. GUSKI
1 with specific areas of the filing. Noble also retained Careba Mott MacDonald
2 to assist with the project.
3 Q. Please state your name, title and business address.
4 A. My name is Michael E. Guski, CCM, Principal, Epsilon Associates, Inc., 3
5 Clock Tower Place, Maynard, Massachusetts.
6 Q. Please summarize your educational and professional background.
7 A. I received a B.S. and M.S. in atmospheric science from the State University
8 of New York at Albany. I am a certified consulting meteorologist. I am the
9 Project Manager for Epsilon Associates in connection with Noble Allegany,
10 LLC's ("Noble's") proposed Centerville to Yorkshire 115 kV Transmission
11 Line Article VII application. I have over 30 years experience in project
12 impact assessment, permitting and eompliancc.
13 Q. Does your curriculum vitae fairly and accurately describe your experience')
14 A. Yes. It is attached to the profiled testimony.
15 Q. What was your role in the Centerville to Yorkshire transmission line project?
16 A. Epsilon Associates was retained by Noble to undertake the analysis and
17 studies needed to inform and support a New York State Public Service Law
18 Article VII filing for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and
19 Public Need ("Certificate") with respect to Noble's proposed major utility
20 transmission facility.
21 Q. Mr. Readling, what is the purpose of your testimony?
vn
22 A. As the Noble project manager, I am responsible for the Article
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TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLING/MICHAEL E. GUSKI
Application and the materials and exhibits that constitute the Application.
2 The Application was prepared under my direction and supervision in
3 collaboration with Mr. Guski of Epsilon, and with the assistance of others as
4 noted in the testimony and exhibits. I am also primarily responsible for
5 Noble's coordination with our Co-Applicants, the Village of Arcade. The
6 Village will own and operate those facilities which arc in the Village's service
7 area, and which will become an integral part of the Village's electric system.
8 In this Application, those facilities are called "Transmission Section 3". The
9 Village is responsible for the choice of route and design for those facilities.
10 Q. Mr. Guski, what is the purpose of your testimony?
11 A. I am responsible, as project manager for Epsilon, for the exhibits and
12 materials that constitute the Application. The Application was prepared by
13 the Epsilon team, under my supervision and direction, except where noted.
14 Epsilon, the Village or Noble retained highly qualified subcontractors for
IS certain matters. We also worked with Noble's engineering consulting firm,
16 Careba Mott MacDonald ("Careba"), in connection with the Application.
17 We also worked with the Village ofArcade's engineers, rLM, Inc., with
18 respect to the part of the project that will he owned and operated hy the
19 Village (Transmission Section 3). I am the primary witness sponsoring the
20 Application's exhibits.
21 Q. Do the co-applicants intend to prepare an Environmental Management and
22 Construction Plan CEM&CP") for the project?
23 A. Yes. It is our intention, consistent with Commission practice in Article VII
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TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLING/MICHAEL E. GUSKI
proccedings, to provide for Commission approval a detailed EM&CP after
2 thc Article VII Certificate is issued. That document will provide further
3 detail and refinement in connection with the proposed construction of the
4 project, and attendant cnvironmental safeguards. Wc expcct that thc
5 Commission's order in this matter will provide for separate project
6 conditions and a separate EM&CP for thc parts of the projcct owned by
7 Noble (Transmission Sections 1 and 2) and that to be owned by the Village of
8 Arcade (Transmission Section 3).
9 Q. Docs this Article VII filing contain general information regarding the application?
10 A. Yes. Exhibit 1 was prepared under our supervision and direction to provide
II that information.
12 Q. Does the filing contain a description of the facilities and their location?
13 A. Ycs it does, in Exhibit 2. Exhibit 2 was prepared under our supervision and
14 direction.
IS Q. Did the co-applicants investigate alternatives to the project proposed in the filing?
16 A. Ycs. The analysis of alternatives is presented in Exhibit 3. That exhibit was
17 prepared by us and under our supervision and direction. Thc material
18 concerning thc Public Information Program was provided by Mr. Elko. The
19 alternatives with respect to voltagc and structures and the analysis of
20 undergrounding options wcre prepared with the assistance of Careba and
21 PLM.
22 Q. What considerations went into the determination of the proposed route?
CRR/MEG-4
TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLING/MICHAEL E. GUSKI
A. As explained in Exhibit 3, a number of factors wcre considered in the process
2 of route selection, including of course landowner preferences as well as
3 cnginccring and environmental concerns. The project utilizes an existing
4 right-of-way ("ROW") and existing structures. The ROW avoids scenic
5 areas. Efforts were madc to avoid heavily timbered areas and steep slopes.
6 The route avoids high points and ridge lines. The route preserves the natural
7 landscape and minimizes land use conflicts.
8 Q. Was the environmental impact ofthe project studied?
9 A. Yes it was. Thc studies of the environmental impact are set forth in Exhibit
10 4. For thc most part, the environmental studies were undertaken as a
II collaboration by environmental scientists conversant in the relevant
12 disciplines, Exhibit 4 was prepared under Mr. Guski's direction and
13 supervision. The construction procedures and schedule wcre addressed by
14 Mcsscrs. Marsland and Harrington. The analysis ofwctlands, terrestrial
15 resources and wildlife was done under the supervision of Ms. Wcaver. The
16 visual analysis was supervised by Mr. Guariglia of Saratoga Associates and
17 Ms. Fletcher of Epsilon. The cultural analysis was conducted under the
18 supervision of Dr. Cinquino of Panamcrican Consultants, Inc. Ms. Cadigan
19 was primarily responsible for the supervision of the geological and soils
20 analysis. Thc air and noisc quality sections were prepared under Mr.
21 Guski's direction.
2L Q. Does the application contain design drawings?
CRR/MECi-5
TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLINGIMICHAEL E. GUSKI
A. Yes, in Exhibit 5. Those drawings were done under the direction and
2 supervision of Careba and PLM. Those gentlemen also examined the cost of
3 the facility, and prepared Exhibit 9 addressing that matter. They provided
4 the detailed description of the proposed transmission line and other related
5 facilities set forth in Exhibit E-1 and Exhibit E-2; and they also provided the
6 engineering justification which is set forth in Exhibit E-4.
7 Q. Does the filing contain a statement of the economic effect of the proposed
8 facility?
9 A. Yes it docs. Exhibit 6 was prepared under our directiou and supervision.
10 Q. Docs the filing contain a list of all local ordinances, laws, or other requirements
11 applicable to the proposed facility?
12 A. Yes. That material, along with a statement of the justification for a request
13 for the Commission to refuse to apply certain local legal provisions, is set
14 forth in Exhibit 7. That Exhibit was prepared by Ms. Markowitz, in
IS collaboration with legal counsel where appropriate.
16 Q. Does the application address other pending filings?
17 A. Yes. Exhibit 8 was prepared under our supervision and direction. That
18 Exhibit briefly sets forth filings related to the proposed project.
19 Q. Does the application address the project's anticipated effects on communications?
20 A. Yes. That matter is addressed in Exhibit £-5. That Exhibit was prepared
21 under the direction and supervision of Mr. Opalanko,
22 Q. Docs the application address the project's effect on transportation?
CRR/MECi·6
TESTIMONY OF PANEL:
CHARLES R. READLINGlMlCHAEL E. GUSKI
A. Yes. Exhibit E-6 was prepared under our supervision and direction.
2 Q. Does the filing contain other information you thought may be helpful?
3 A. Yes it does in several areas.
4 Q. What is your conclusion regarding the project based on the studies and analysis
5 conducted?
6 A. The proposed facility represents the minimum adverse environmental
7 impact, givcn thc state of tcchnology, and the nature and economics of the
8 alternatives. The facility is needed and is in the public interest. The project
9 has thc minimum adverse effect on agricultural lands and wetlands. It will
10 not have any significant adverse long term effect on land use, visual
11 resources, cultural resources, terrestrial resources, wildlife, soils, water
12 resources, cultural resources, or other human or natural resources. It should
13 not have a significant adverse effect on traffic or transportation. The noisc
14 impact should be minimal. There should he no impact on communieations.
IS The EMF impaets should be well below all relevant guidelines. In sum, the
16 project as proposed minimizes the potential adverse cffcct of the project to
17 thc maximum extcnt practicable.
18 Q. Docs this complete your pre-filed direct testimony at this time?
19 A. Yes.
CRRJMEG-7
CHARLES R. READLING

7294 Centerville Rd PO Box 72

Bliss, NY 14024

[phone] wk [phone] cell

readling c«vnoblepower.COT!}

Experience
2005 - Current NOBLE ENVIRONMENTAL POWER, LLC. http://www.nobJepower.colll
(Developer and operator of renewable energy products)
Director of Development - Western NY
• Manage staff ofWindpark developers with over $1.2 billion in current and future project
creation
• Direct activities with local, state and federal governmental agencies including negotiation of
contracts
• Lead construction ofpennit documentation for Western New York projects
• Develop and manage individual project budgets
• Oversee identification of prospective project areas and assist in financial modeling to
determine viability
2002 -2004 NCR CORPORAnON - TERADATA DIVISION http://www.teradata.com
(provider of enterprise data warehouse products and services, $5.6 billion sales)
Territory Manager - Mid-Atlantic
• Managed consultative sales and marketing activities across seven state territory
Developed and maintained strategic relationships with key decision makers and influencers
Jl
• Oversaw construction of solution proposals and led presentations delivered to executive level
client contacts
Supervised development of integration project plans and acted as central point of contact
II
during implementation
Analyzed targeted accounts and created financial models to determine probability of
II
successful engagements and allocation of resources
• Led cross-continent team in development of$8.5mm proposal to international client
• Achieved recapture of three Fortune 500 clients with $9.Rmm in projeeted revenue
2000 - 2002 MARCONI, INC. http://www.marroni.colJl
(Provider of tetecommunlcarlons networking equipment and services, $3.1 billion sales)
Territory Manager - South East
• Directed sales and engineering teams positioning hardware, software and services
• Developed customized marketing conununication programs for targeted clients increasing
initial response rate by 200%
• Participated in long-term strategic planning meeting with clients
• Uncovered additional revenue potential within existing account base, achieving $1.4 million
in new business
• Worked with executives from the sixteenth largest telecommunications company in the U.S.
to analyze and recommend residential fiber optic deployment strategies
1994 - 1999 ANIXTER, INC. http:lh",'ww.anixter.com
(Information technology, telecommunications produets and services reseller, $3 billion sates)
Account Executive - South Carolina
• Developed and maintained accounts in territory resulting in achievement of 100% ofsales
goal every yeur
Awarded Anixter Performers Club, representing top 10% of sales organization
II
• Led development and implementation of $3.5 million cross-continent solution for
international client
Education
2003 ~'UQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC
Master ofBusiness Administration
1998 NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, Raleigh, NC

Bachelor of Arts in Business Management

1989 LEES MCRU COLLEGE, Banner Elk, NC

Associate 1Jl Scicncc r Engineering