Kessel: Blowing toward energy independence
The winds are blowing all across America. We’re waking up to the need to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels through wind farms both on land and in the water. This is an exciting
Kessel: Blowing toward energy independence
The winds are blowing all across America. We’re waking up to the need to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels through wind farms both on land and in the water. This is an exciting time for the wind industry as new technologies are being perfected that could result in wind power accounting for as much as 20 percent of this country’s energy production.
Actually, wind is nothing new to America. Windmills were erected in the 1800s and served as storage facilities, meeting places and landmarks. Our ancestors were fascinated with windmills and hundreds of these old machines can be seen throughout New York. Even here on Long Island, locales such as Watermill and East Hampton have windmills that were erected decades ago. And, towns throughout the state have windmills on farms and in town and village squares to celebrate their heritage. Now, however, windmills are become a sign of America’s willingness to consider alternatives to fossil fuel plants that carry with them emissions that contribute negatively to air quality.
Many states, including New York, are taking a leadership role in encouraging wind development. Here in New York, for example, Gov. David Paterson is leading the charge for wind development both on land and offshore. Dozens of wind farms are either operating or are under development in upstate New York. Even in major cities such as Buffalo, wind development is proceeding at a rapid place.
New York is fertile ground for wind energy. Dozens of developers are approaching private utilities like Con Ed and National Grid, and public power companies, such as the Long Island Power Authority and New York Power Authority, to develop projects that can be as small as one megawatt and as large as five hundred or more megawatts. And, with the backing of the administration and the race to meet New York’s goal of producing 25 percent of our energy through renewables in five years, it’s not out of the question that windmills will dot this state from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Country.
Experts estimate that up to 5,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for over two and a half million homes, can be produced off the shores of Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Wind’s time has finally arrived, and several years from now, New York can be the wind capital of the world. One of the answers to our energy woes is clearly blowin’ in the wind.
Richard Kessel is president of the New York Power Authority.
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