(ALLEGANY) – EverPower Wind Holdings, Incorporated has Reached an Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 and Laborers Local 621 to Use Local Labor on the Pittsburgh-Based Utility-Grade Wind Energy Products Company’s Proposed Allegany Wind Project, it was announced Thursday (September 26th). 

The $140 million Project would be Located in the Cattaraugus County Town of Allegany in the Southern Tier, in an Area Covering more than 9,100 Acres.  Less than 250 Acres of the Privately-Leased Landscape would Actually Be Used for the Project, which would Construct 29 Wind Turbines, Create 725 Megawatts of Energy and Generate Power Equivalent to the Demand of 17,700 Homes Annually, EverPower Wind Holdings Representatives said in a Press Release. 

It’s Also Expected the Project will Create as Many as 200 Construction Jobs and Eight to 10 Permanent Jobs.  IUOE Local 17, whose Jurisdiction Stretches Across Western New York, is Located in Lake View in Erie County.  Laborers Local 621 is Located in the Cattaraugus County City of Olean.

“This is ‘Good News’ for Workers in Cattaraugus County,” said Robert LaForge, who Serves as a Monitor for the Western New York Foundation for Fair Contracting.  “The Wind Project will Provide a Much-Needed Boost for Our Economy.  It will Result in ‘Real’ Jobs and Income for Local Workers in Construction and Transportation.”

“This Agreement Allows Us to Partner with Organized Labor to Ensure the Project is Built Using Highly-Skilled Local Labor, Receiving Good Wages and Benefits – Thus Increasing the Value of the Project as a Whole to the Community and Local Residents,” EverPower Chief Development Officer Chris Shears said.  “It was Clear from our Competitive Bid Process that the Expertise and Value Available will be a Great Asset to the Project.”

The Project is Currently Being Held Up in the Courts with Two Pending Lawsuits, as well as with the Town of the Olean, which has Not as Yet Approved the Needed Building Permits.  However, LaForge told WNYLaborToday.com that the Pittsburgh Company is Hopeful the Litigation will be Settled by November and that the Project Will Move Ahead. EverPower said in its Press Release that it Hopes to Have the Wind Farm Construction Project Completed by the End of 2014.

EverPower is a Pittsburgh-Based Developer of Utility-Grade Wind Energy Projects, according to Information Posted on the Company’s Website – everpower.com.  It Secures Land and Installs Wind Farms that are Composed of Turbines that General Electricity to Provide Power for the Immediate Area.  EverPower Notes that it has Six Commercially-Operated Wind Projects and 15 Projects in Eight States in Various Stages of Development.