NEWSLETTER
Our quarterly newsletter captures project spotlights, conferences and events attended, and recent staff updates.

    
ISSUE NO. 21 / January 2018 
Epsilon was very busy at the close of 2017 helping to ensure that Vineyard Wind filed important applications for both federal and state permits. Vineyard Wind is proposing an up to 800 megawatt wind farm in an offshore lease area in federal waters approximately 14 miles south of Martha's Vineyard. Buried submarine and terrestrial cables will carry power generated by the wind farm to a grid interconnection point in Barnstable, Massachusetts. The accelerated permitting undertaking has positioned Vineyard Wind to have the first commercial large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, with construction set to begin in 2019.

Epsilon was instrumental in leading the applications that were submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office and the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board. This included preparing the first Construction and Operations Plan (COP) filed with BOEM for the current generation of US offshore wind projects. As part of our permitting work, we provided an onshore and offshore cable routing analysis and a comprehensive assessment of the project's potential impacts to physical, biological, and socioeconomic resources.  Epsilon's talented team of energy experts, coastal scientists, and ecologists brought the expertise necessary to meet the project's schedule. This enormous effort will help to bring enough clean energy to power more than 400,000 homes in the Commonwealth.
Bringing Our Expertise to New York State

Deer River Wind noise monitoring.
Navigating the relatively new Article 10 of the Public Service Law in New York State is not always straightforward. The regulation provides a more streamlined process for the siting review of new or modified major electric generating facilities in New York State by the Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. Epsilon's noise experts have been working with clients on wind farm projects as they proceed through the Article 10 permitting process. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Epsilon completed the noise portion of Article 10 permit application for Apex Clean Energy's Galloo Island Wind as well as NextEra's Eight Point Wind, which also included shadow flicker. We also assisted with the noise section of the Preliminary Scoping Statement for Avangrid's Mad River Wind Project. Another step forward in the Article 10 review process, this is considered a significant milestone for the project.
 
In addition, Epsilon was busy negotiating draft Stipulation 19 (Noise) for Avangrid's North Ridge Wind and Deer River Wind, Apex Clean Energy's Lighthouse Wind, and Calpine's Bluestone Wind. New York remains very active with wind farm development and Epsilon's intrinsic knowledge of the Article 10 process has been instrumental in guiding developers through these regulations.
Get Organized in 2018!
Let Epsilon help you track your environmental permits and approvals! From the start of construction through project close-out, Epsilon can help you manage your project schedules and deadlines; meet project commitments; track mitigation requirements; act as your liaison with local, state and federal regulators; and ensure that permit conditions are being complied with by the site contractor and project team. Contact us today for more information.
ConferencesWhere We've Been (And Where We're Going)
Highlighted below is the most recent events we participated in.

In September, Epsilon returned as an exhibitor for another successful Massachusetts Airport Management Association (MAMA) Conference. Mike Howard, Alyssa Jacobs and  Amanda Atwell from Epsilon's Ecological Sciences group staffed the booth and were available to talk to conference attendees about Epsilon's airport-related services.
 
In October, Rob O'Neal attended the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc. Fall Conference in Albany. The conference examined the opportunities and challenges for achieving 50 percent renewable energy and a clean energy future for New York State. Being that we are currently supporting numerous proposed wind farms in the state we were eager to attend this event and learn all about the challenges and opportunities for renewable energy.
 
Also in October, Rob O'Neal, Maria Hartnett and Holly Johnston attended AWEA's Offshore Wind Conference in New York City. This well attended event highlighted New York's role with offshore wind as New York has committed to develop 2,400 MW by 2030.  
 
On December 7th, Co-Managing Principal Rob O'Neal spoke at the 174th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference covered a range of topics, including wind turbine noise. Rob spoke during the wind turbine noise session about sound level impact studies for wind energy in New York State, particularly as they go through New York's recently adopted Article 10 regulation. Rob has been working with various developers on seven of these projects and spoke about the key steps in the process ranging from the initial public involvement through submittal of an application.

Our upcoming events Epsilon is attending, exhibiting or speaking at include:
 
NECA 2018 Renewable Energy Conference  | February 1, 2018 |  More Info
Epsilon exhibiting

MACC Annual Environmental Conference | March 3, 2018 |  More Info
Epsilon attending

EUEC 2018 Conference | March 3-5, 2018 |  More Info
Epsilon Speakers: Steve Slocomb and Joe Sabato

IDEA CampusEnergy 2018 | March 5-9, 2018 |  More Info
Epsilon Speakers: AJ Jablonowski

AWEA Wind Project Siting & Environmental Compliance Conference | March 20-21, 2018 |  More Info
Epsilon attending

Click here  to learn more about these and other upcoming events.  
CompanyWhat's New At Epsilon
New Leadership.  In case you missed it, we recently announced that Rob O'Neal has joined Peggy Briggs as Co-Managing Principal. As of January 1, Ted Barten stepped down after his 20-year stint as Co-Managing Principal, but is remaining active in his work on major energy projects. While we are sad to see Ted step down from this role, we know that Rob, working collaboratively with Peggy, will provide the steady, skilled, and thoughtful leadership which Epsilon has enjoyed for its first two decades.

Stepping up. With Rob O'Neal's change in roles, Richard Lampeter will now lead the Acoustics Group. Rob, as Co-Managing Principal, will continue assisting his clients in solving their acoustics challenges.  Since joining Epsilon in 2001, Rich has been an integral member of the acoustics group conducting community sound level impact assessments throughout the country. He routinely presents the key aspects of impact assessments to local boards and provides expert testimony resulting in Rich becoming a well-known expert. Over the years he has built a strong reputation for himself and we look forward to his new role.

Congrats Peggy!  On November 17, we celebrated with Managing Principal Peggy Briggs who was selected by the Worcester Business Journal as a 2017 Outstanding Women in Business. Outstanding Women in Business winners are selected on their achievements and impact on the community. Peggy has done this in her own way and as such was recognized for her achievements in and out of the work place. Peggy has been instrumental in growing Epsilon from a company that started with just 7 partners 20 years ago to a 53-employee firm grossing about $12 million annually. With an extensive track record of successfully assisting clients through the regulatory processes combined with her involvement on boards and interest in mentoring other women in the field, Peggy is well deserving of this recognition.