Long Island utility considers wind farms in ocean
Date: 23-Aug-02
Country: USA
"By harnessing the wind to generate electricity, Long Island will be taking a giant step forward in reducing its dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity, which in turn will help reduce power plant emissions on Long Island," said LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel in a statement.
LIPA, the state-owned utility that serves some 1.1 million customers on Long Island, will later this autumn seek formal proposals from wind energy developers to build enough wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Long Island to generate about 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
One megawatt is enough to run about 1,000 average homes.
In April, LIPA and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) issued a study that showed up to 5,200 MW of electricity could be produced by wind turbines off Long Island's shores.
The turbines would be built in a 314 square-mile band stretching three to six nautical miles off Long Island's south shore and east of Montauk Point, Long Island's easternmost land.
LIPA will use the requests for information to determine the best location for the plants.