By Howard Goldstein
Along with solar energy, wind power is the hope of the future for many who want to replace fossil-fuel power plants, including diesel and oil plants, with eco-friendly, renewable resources.
The Offshore Wind Generation Project would be a beginning, LIPA officials say.
The proposed offshore wind farm -- perhaps the nation's first -- would span a section of Long Island's South Shore, including Point Lookout, Lido Beach and Long Beach. The wind park would run from a point southwest of the western end of Jones Beach to an area southwest of the western end of Robert Moses State Park.
"This is such a major project," LIPA Media Relations Director Michael Lowndes said. "This is historic. Nothing like this has been done anywhere in the nation or at this scale."
Critics, however, have decried the project, saying it would ruin the ocean views off Jones Beach.
In late January, LIPA released a request for proposals seeking to develop the nation's first offshore wind park, which officials anticipate could be in operation by late 2007.
The wind turbines would be located at least 2.5 nautical miles -- or 2.875 statute miles -- offshore. The hum they produce would rarely, if ever, be audible from shore, officials said.
The height of the wind turbines, with one blade straight up, would be 360 to 428 feet above the surface of the water. They might be visible from shore on a clear day, Lowndes said.
LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel, of Merrick, said, "Wind power offers a huge potential for helping Long Island meet its ever-growing demand for electricity in an environmentally beneficial way.
"It is essential," he continued, "that we carefully review all of the environmental, economic and engineering factors as completely as possible before any final decisions are made."
Although LIPA reported far more support for than opposition to the project, most critics were concerned with the aesthetics of the windmills. "It's a horrible idea," said frequent Jones Beach-goer Jeff, of Merrick, who did not give his last name. "I'm totally against it."
At a recent LIPA meeting in Uniondale, a woman spoke up against the proposed site, calling the windmills "a good idea, just not in that location."
However, most speakers who talked about the project, which focused on Long Island's power situation in general, praised the windmill project as a progressive answer to the Island's power needs.
And, while some Jones Beach boardwalk lovers expressed concern, many others had no objections. "If this will help power the Island, they should do it. I'm all for it," said Ron, of Holbrook.
Linda, of Bellmore, said, "As I understand it, the wind farm will appear like dots on the horizon. It's not going to ruin the view, and it's good for the environment."
Other concerns raised were that the turbines might interfere with or harm migrating shorebirds and perhaps disrupt the commercial fishing industry.
However, the primary route for migrating birds is over eastern Long Island. Lowndes explained that bird migration patterns were studied extensively, and the site chosen is "optimal" to avoid interfering with mass migration.
LIPA promised to continue an exhaustive environmental review and a thorough evaluation of the economic and engineering factors involved in the windmill project.
Fishermen's concerns were also considered, with the area off Jones Beach chosen for the project because it is outside traditionally busy fishing and shell-fishing zones. "We found that most fisherman opposition came from the completely mistaken idea that the windmills would be off Montauk Point," said Lowndes.
"As we pursue this project," he said, "we are attempting to include all Long Islanders in the process. Our criteria for a site was that it must provide enough wind to be practical, but not interfere with traditional and commercial maritime activities, as well as wildlife."
LIPA has also enlisted the support of the Substantial Energy Alliance, which represents more than 30 Long Island-based environmental, civic and faith-based groups, Lowndes said.
With the request for proposals released, LIPA is seeking an experienced developer to build, own, operate and maintain the offshore wind park for an estimated 20 years, Lowndes said. The park would have between 25 and 50 wind turbines that would produce about 100 to 140 megawatts of electricity.
Two years ago, peak electricity use on a summer day on Long Island was nearly 5,000 megawatts, Lowndes said. Last year, he said, the usage rose to over 6,000 megawatts. Even on a breezy day, therefore, the wind turbines would produce only a fraction of the electricity needed to supply Long Island. They would generate an alternate supply, Lowndes said.
Massive wind isn't needed to power the wind turbines. The blades, Lowndes said, don't have to turn fast to work. "They don't need to move like an airplane propeller," he said.
Wind energy is only practical in certain locations, which means that even in the best of worlds, wind could not be the major power source for most parts of the country. The South Shore, however, gets enough wind for windmills to be practical. Interestingly, the North Shore isn't windy enough, making rejection of the area a necessity, not the product of upper-class favoritism, as a few opponents have suggested.
While the project's estimated start date is in late 2007, Lowndes said, LIPA is "far from it. We feel confident that things are moving in the right direction. LIPA intends to involve anyone that will be impacted by this. This is not something LIPA is doing on [its] own."
In proposing the generation project, LIPA is trying to keep with Gov. George Pataki's objective to have 25 percent of the state's electricity come from renewable technologies such as windmills.
LIPA has indicated that it would enter into a 15- to 20-year Power Purchase Agreement for 100 percent of the electricity from the windmills. LIPA would also be responsible for connecting the wind park to its land-based electric transmission grid. A cable would run from an offshore substation to one of LIPA's land-based substations.
The proposed wind park would also become part of LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative, a $170 million program for researching, developing and implementing alternative energy technologies.
