the Independent
i n dy e a s t e n d . c o m
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Wind Power Efficient? Maybe Not
and the blades themselves will kill thousands of birds.
By Rick Murphy
It may be clean energy, but it apparently isn’t going to be cheap.
Some East Hampton residents are concerned about an underwater cable that will link the offshore facility with the mainland.
The backlash over a proposed wind farm to be built off the coast of Montauk is mushrooming and some concerned politicians are now hedging their bets. As estimates for the cost of the electricity start dribbling in critics say ratepayers will have to pay a hefty premium, and charges were leveled last week the utility companies have known as much all along but are keeping the information from the public. LIPA and PSEG officials have taken pains not to release the true costs of the project that ratepayers will bear, according to a recent article by Mark Harrington in Newsday.
Tom Falcone, the LIPA CEO, told The Independent that a cost of 30-cents per megawatt predicted by an East Hampton Town Trustee “isn’t remotely accurate” but he declined to say what the price would be, even though he acknowledged price projections
“I support efforts to promote renewable energy sources such as wind and solar with the caveat that they be implemented with environmental sensitivity,” said Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a lifelong East End resident. “Not every solar or wind project is a good one.” have been made. He said there are too many variables down the road to make an accurate forecast of the true cost.
East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said that if projections are true that the town will be facing a power deficit by 2030, then an alternate means of energy must be developed, and right now Deepwater is the one on the table. “When analyzing the cost of
electricity to the South Fork you have to compare it with the cost of traditional generating plants,” he said.
Environmental groups and the fishing industry were the first to voice their opposition to building 15 turbine wind generators in the Atlantic because of the proximity to fertile fishing grounds. They are concerned the noise emanating from the generators will be disruptive to the fish stock
The cable will likely go under the bay bottom across Napeague Bay then be buried under land from Amagansett to Buell Lane; the electricity itself will not be used exclusively for the town but added to the state grid.
A review of documents provided by PSEG and LIPA reveal costs could far exceed the 30 cent estimate as time goes on – the utility is committing to all of the power generated by the facility, dubbed South Fork Wind, and has agreed to annual price hikes.
“Deepwater has to and should respect and address issues brought up by fisherman and that includes the cable and placing the generators on fishing grounds,” Cantwell said. Currently the generators are sited on Cox’s Ledge, a popular codfishing site.
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Zachary Cohen, who is running for East Hampton Town Board, said he is reaching out to European fishing groups who have studied the effects of wind generators on different species.
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“I am concerned by Cuomo’s energy plan, particularly the $7.6 billion subsidy we will all be paying to keep nuclear power plants open in upstate,” Thiele said. Cuomo seems particularly enamored with Deepwater and some critics said his motives are political in nature.
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