By Laura Lane
The July 11 meeting was intended to give the public an opportunity to request which short- and long-term environmental issues they'd like the government to study, as well as how the project might affect the environment.
Opinions were heated and passionate as more than 100 Long Islanders attempted to convey their viewpoints at the hearing at Massapequa High School. Another hearing was held in West Babylon. At the Massapequa forum, speakers were often interrupted by applause or boos from the large crowd.
North Bellmore environmental advocate Richard Schary wondered if there is "a hidden conflict of interest" in the project, saying that the former LIPA chairman, Frank Zarb, is now on Florida Power & Light's Board of Directors. LIPA selected FP&L to develop the windmill project. "The former LIPA chairman has received at least 1,000 shares of FPL stock, worth over $40,000," Schary said. "I ask [Mineral Management Services] to please follow the money." In an earlier interview with the Herald, a LIPA representative discounted Zarb's membership on the FP&L board, saying that the power provider offered the best bid for the project.
In a phone interview, Schary reiterated his suspicions, saying that he believes that the "entire process reeks...because the people who will benefit are the people building it and their contacts. This will only raise our [electric] rates." Schary added that he believes the addition of the wind park would not lead to the closure of any existing power plants.
Merokean Bob Young, a member of the nonprofit Long Island Wind Works and a staunch supporter of the windmill project, said he is concerned that people fail to see the big picture. "We are in a situation now where people have to have a vision for the future and allow for other things to take place, like solar and wind power, geothermal -- the list is endless," said Young. "The long-term benefits are important for this country's energy needs. Everyone understands our dependency on foreign oil, but no one wants to make the sacrifices necessary themselves."
Young cited the ever-rising cost of gasoline, and said that the country's dependence on foreign oil is a direct threat to its security and economic well-being. "If we don't build the wind parks, they're going to build other power plants," said Young. "Are people going to want that power plant in their backyard?"
Environmental group representatives, civic leaders and elected officials took turns expressing their opinions about the project's feasibility. A couple of engineers spoke as well, disagreeing with each other. "The windmill is a piece of junk that's dependent on wind speed," said Charles Hersh, a retired electrical engineer from Amityville. "Wind speed isn't steady, and while it's down we'll have to use other forms of electricity to make up for the deficiency. This project will replace 20 to 25 percent of fossil-fuel use, because it only runs 20 to 25 percent of the time because the wind will die down."
Another engineer, who said he has worked for General Motors for the past 20 years, supported the project. "Consider the cost of not doing this," he said. "The cost of the project will be offset by what we'll save by not burning fossil fuel. I don't see anyone else putting an offer on the table."
The project's cost has been estimated at $400 million, which FP&L would fund, according to LIPA. If approved, the South Shore wind park would comprise 40 windmills, each measuring 442.5 feet high and collectively producing 140 megawatts of power, enough electricity to light 44,000 homes.
People at the meeting requested a rigorous environmental study that would include input from Long Island scientists. They were concerned about the impact on wildlife -- migrating birds and fish -- as well as just how much humans would benefit from the project.
Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, a Democrat of Merrick, and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto asked why a decision to consider moving forward on the project couldn't wait until completion of a government environmental impact study. And Denenberg asked why a location near a public beach had been chosen for the project. "We have a $50 million bond to keep open space pristine" in Nassau County, Denenberg said. "Isn't the ocean open space?"
He added that he was told that the reason for the location was the ocean's depth. "Is it true that the ocean depth is only good outside Robert Moses and Jones Beach?" Denenberg asked.
One man said he hoped the wind park would bring about positive change on Long Island. "Long Island is overdeveloped with strip malls and acres of parking," he said. "The wind towers will rid us of carbon dioxide. It would set an example for the rest of the world."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
