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THE CITIZEN STAFF

The Florida-based energy company proposing one of the state’s largest solar arrays for the town of Conquest has fi led a new document with the state that kicks o� an initial public comment period.

Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, a sister company of Florida Power & Light Co., on Friday posted a notice of its preliminary scoping statement for its proposed 200-megawatt solar power facility. The 239-page scoping statement itself, which was o� cially fi led Sept. 17, outlines proposed studies that would be done to determine the community impact of the proj-ect.

It also starts the clock on the appointment of two Conquest residents who will serve as ad hoc members of the state De-partment of Public Service’s

THE CITIZEN STAFF

Ahead of what could be a surge in demand for food waste pro-

cessing facilities in central New York, the biogas digester oper-ating on Cayuga County-owned land in Sennett has secured fed-eral funding to help add equip-ment.

The U.S. Environmental Pro-tection Agency has awarded a $235,440 grant for the Cayuga

County Digester operated by Generate Capital under a 2016 lease-to-own agreement with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation Agreement. The facility processes farm and food waste to produce energy, which is sold to the county and the district to help power gov-

ernment facilities on County House Road.

Originally built with plans for the primary waste source to be manure from area farms, the digester in recent years has been taking increased amounts of

Grant to help digester growTHE CITIZEN FILE

A pallet of food waste enters a machine at the Cayuga Regional Digester in Sennett on April 2019. The machine separates the packaging, such as cardboard and plastics, from the organic waste that is put into the digester.

Solar project in new phase

JONATHAN LEMIRE, JILL COLVIN AND ZEKE MILLERAssociated Press

BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump went through a “very concerning” period Friday and faces a “critical” next two

days in his fi ght against COVID-19 at a military hospital, his chief of sta� said Saturday — in contrast to a rosier assessment moments earlier by Trump doctors, who took pains not to reveal the pres-ident had received supplemental oxygen at the White House before his hospital admission.

Trump himself o� ered an up-beat assessment Saturday eve-

ning in a video from Walter Reed National Military Medical Cen-ter. While sounding subdued, the president said he was beginning to feel better and hoped to “be back soon.”

Hours earlier chief of sta� Mark Meadows told reporters outside the hospital, “We’re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery.”

The changing, and at times

contradictory accounts, created a credibility crisis for the White House at a crucial moment, with the president’s health and the nation’s leadership on the line. With Trump expected to remain hospitalized several more days and the presidential election looming, his condition is being anxiously watched by Americans.

Moreover, the president’s health

represents a national security is-sue of paramount importance not only to the functions of the U.S. government but to countries around the world, friendly and otherwise.

Saturday’s briefi ng by Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley and other doctors raised more

Trump said to be improving

THE CITIZEN STAFF

A home in Auburn was badly damaged by fi re Saturday after-noon.

Auburn Fire Department Assis-tant Chief Michael Grady said the call for a blaze at 100 Owasco St. came in at 3:30 p.m.

Flames were shooting out of an second-story window shortly after fi refi ghters arrived at the

home.Grady said the fi re had been

brought under control by 4:30 but fi refi ghters remained at the scene looking for any hot spots that might still be present.

Fire investigators were on the scene Saturday evening. The in-vestigation into the cause was on-going and it wasn’t immediately known how the fi re started.

Grady said there were no inju-ries reported.

Cayuga County 911 said that the Red Cross was called to help three people who would need emer-gency housing because of the fi re.

Sta� writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

Residents displaced by fire

WASHINGTON

Upcoming days called ‘critical’ to recovery

ENVIRONMENT

Federal funds will enable Sennett facility to take more food waste

ENERGY

Conquest proposal to solicit public comment

More online: To read the full preliminary scoping statement for the Conquest solar project proposal, see this story at auburnpub.com.

AUBURN Flames shoot out through a window at a home in Auburn Saturday.PROVIDED

Please see TRUMP, Page A7

Please see DIGESTER, Page A5

Please see SOLAR, Page A5

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