Geneva plant turning to wind power
Geneva officials have approved a major wind energy project at the Zotos plant in the Ontario County city.
The Geneva Zoning Board of Appeals approved variances that paved the way for construction to start in August, said the city’s zoning and building coordinator, Anthony Validzic.
The two 364-foot wind turbines are expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, the $7 million Zotos project is the largest of any manufacturing company in the U.S.
“It’s incredibly exciting and gratifying to see our wind energy project move forward, and we are thrilled to showcase a success story for the new, green global economy,” said Anthony Perdigao, vice president of plant operations at Zotos.
Zotos officials said funding from the federal economic stimulus program will cover 30 percent of the cost.
The turbines will generate about 70 percent of the plant’s energy. Zotos spends about $1 million a year on electricity.
By the end of 2011, the company expects to fill all its energy needs through a combination of increased efficiency and renewable sources such as the wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells and methane.
Zotos will donate 5 percent of the wind power generated to the city of Geneva.
A maker of hair dyes, Zotos is owned by Shiseido Americas Corp. and has more than 360 full-time and 310 flex-time employees at the 660,000-square-foot Geneva plant, where Zotos has invested $30 million.
