Running for the environment

Avid runner and Sierra Club volunteer Matt Kearns attempted to traverse Long Island — from Montauk to Long Beach — last Saturday for the Wind 100 run, an event to create awareness about wind energy potential on Long Island. Though he was forced to stop shy of his goal, at 90 miles, his feat helped build unprecedented support for offshore wind power on Long Island, and produced one of the largest environmental rallies on Long Island, Sierra Club representatives said.

The Wind 100 event was hosted by the Sierra Club, along with a coalition of other organizations that are interested in bringing wind farms to Long Island as both a source of energy and jobs, Sierra Club organizer David Alicea said. He said that there is currently a proposal that calls for a wind farm — or a field of wind turbines — 30 miles off Montauk in the Atlantic Ocean, and with the support of PSEG-Long Island, Long Island Power Authority trustees and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, it could move forward this year and be completed by 2017. The wind farm could power over 120,000 homes on the East End. A separate but similar project in Long Beach is further from fruition, but Alicea said that the Sierra Club and the coalition of organizations supports a wind farm 15 miles off the coast of Long Beach, that would have the potential to power between 120,000 and 200,000 homes in Nassau and Queens.

Kearns successfully ran 90 miles — the equivalent of three and a half marathons — from Montauk Point to Babylon, but was forced to stop due to medical reasons. He arrived in Long Beach via car to a cheering crowd of family, friends and offshore wind supporters who waited until after 10 p.m. to greet him at his final destination. Ahead of his arrival, more than 600 people attended the Wind 100 rally and concert on the boardwalk. Speakers included Mark Tannebaum, executive vice president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach City Councilwoman Eileen Goggin and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg. Along the route, Matt received proclamations from the Village of Patchogue and the City of Long Beach. Tannenbaum presented the Long Beach proclamation to Kearns when he arrived on the boardwalk.

“You don’t usually see environmental and business groups linking arms together,” Alicea said of the support of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. “[The event] was really successful in getting attention to the issue.”

“We’re all incredibly proud of Matt and everything he’s done to help bring offshore wind to Long Island,” said Lisa Dix, senior campaign representative of the Sierra Club. “Now, it’s up to Governor Cuomo to get job-creating offshore wind across the finish line this year.”