Is offshore wind power the silver bullet to solve New York's energy challenges? A quick examination says no.
Good news first. Offshore wind power has the potential to be an important part of New York's electricity portfolio, as it is for some coastal European countries. The recent announcement that New York will move forward with the country's second offshore wind facility, off Long Island, is positive. Yet, the facility's 90 megawatts of full-capacity electricity are less than 0.3 percent of what New York State needs on a hot summer day.
Like other power sources, offshore wind faces challenges of financing, engineering and community and environmental opposition. Fishermen are among those opposed to the Long Island project. Offshore wind projects can also impact shipping lanes, disrupting commerce, aquatic life and bird migration. We have not yet found the power source of the future and to ignore the present would be a big mistake.
Against this backdrop, the state needs diverse sources of baseload power, especially natural gas and nuclear. And it needs to promote development of a variety of new power sources and pipelines.
Arthur "Jerry" Kremer
Chairman, New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance
New York City
Read it here: New York Needs a Diverse Energy Portfolio
Publication: Lockport Union Sun & Journal
By: Arthur "Jerry" Kremer
