OFFSHORE NEW YORK?

NewEnergyNews is following developments in offshore wind in the Mid Atlantic Bight step by step. It will form up, sooner or later, into the story of a great breakthrough in U.S. energy production.

So far, the story has been about a few visionaries challenging a lot of NIMBYs (Not In My BackYarders). (See LONG ISLAND OFFSHORE WIND – BETTER THE 2ND TIME?) For that reason, it is especially important to follow the story in the local press.

A report on the development of wind off the New York metro region coast opens with a great lead, suggesting how “refreshing” it is to read about opportunity instead of “crisis.”

It has been estimated the offshore wind resource in the Mid Atlantic Bight could supply a substantial portion of the electricity consumed by the entire East Coast.

That’s not just opportunity, that’s OPPORTUNITY!

Given the enormous potential in the resource, it is not surprising to find skeptics uncomfortable with “enthusiasms” who counsel temperance. They are worth heeding.

Don Riepe, president, Northeast Chapter/American Littoral Society and founder, Jamaica Bay Guardian: “Nobody talks about ... using less energy so we don’t have to keep plugging in more and more things into the system…There’s lots we can do and I think all of that should be part of the mix, not just say, ‘Oh, we need more energy, let’s put a whole bunch of windmills out there,’ like that’s going to solve it…”

Proceeding with caution but proceeding is the wisest way to take advantage of the opportunity.

The winds around Long Island: A real gusher. (click to enlarge)

State explores wind energy off the Rockaway Peninsula
Lee Landor, October 9, 2008 (Queens Chronicle)

WHO
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) (Kevin Law, President/CEO) and Consolidated Edison (ConEd) (Kevin Burke, Chairman/CEO); David Paterson, Governor, NY state; Michael Bloomberg, Mayor, NYC; Don Riepe, president, Northeast Chapter/American Littoral Society and founder, Jamaica Bay Guardian

WHAT
LIPA and ConEd formed an interdisciplinary working group to study the possibility of an offshore wind installation off the Rockaway Peninsula.

The whole region is what the oil guys call an elephant - a huge energy resource. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- This is the first regional partnership project between LIPA and ConEd.
- The offshore project originated from recommendations made by the Governor’s Renewable Energy Taskforce in February 2007.

WHERE
- The proposed project would be at least 10 miles off the Rockaway Peninsula.
- LIPA’s planned 40-turbine, 140-megawatt project off Jones Beach was shelved in 2006 due to steamrolling cost overruns. (See LONG ISLAND OFFSHORE WIND – BETTER THE 2ND TIME?)

WHY
- Governor’s Renewable Energy Taskforce identified opportunities and obstacles to developing NY state’s New Energy: (1) barriers (2) best policies and financial incentives (3) markers for future research and development investment.
- Governor’s Renewable Energy Taskforce evaluated transmission and interconnection capabilities and wind resources and recommended a study group to develop offshore wind.
- The LIPA/ConEd undertaking is that study group. It is inviting input.
- Benefits from the installation: Stimulation of investments and market activity, increase in New Energy jobs, diversification of NY electricity supply.
- The Rockaway project will be farther offshore than the failed Jones Beach project.
- NYC Mayor Bloomberg has recently joined the ranks of the New Energy boosters and called for development of offshore wind as well as turbines atop Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

The East Coast shelf is wide and shallow, perfect for offshore wind. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Kevin Law, President/CEO, LIPA: “I share the ... desire to introduce more wind resources in the metropolitan region…While there is plenty of windpower upstate, there is a transmission bottleneck that makes it difficult to get it to New York City and Long Island, and we need to do some planning to see if offshore wind makes sense downstate.”
- Kevin Burke, Chairman/CEO, ConEd: “This burgeoning market has potential as limitless as the energy it can generate…”
- Don Riepe, president, Northeast Chapter/American Littoral Society and founder, Jamaica Bay Guardian: “...You have to weigh the environmental benefits as well as the costs.”