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Trade group applauds NY
utility's move to diversify energy sources, The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) welcomed the request for proposals (RFP) for offshore wind power issued today by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). The announcement came two weeks after New York Governor George Pataki called for a major statewide expansion of renewable energy, and bodes well for the future of wind power in New York and the Northeast, according to the group. "We salute Governor George Pataki and Long Island Power Authority Chairman Richard Kessel for their vision and leadership in promoting clean, safe, renewable energy -- setting a high standard for the nation in development and usage of locally produced energy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil," said Peter D. Mandelstam, President of Arcadia Windpower, and founder and co-chair of Wind Power New York, an advocacy initiative of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) that first promoted the ideas of a Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) and offshore wind power for New York State. "Long Island needs new sources of electric power," said David Wooley, AWEA Northeast Policy Director. "What better way than to harness the indigenous power of the wind, a power source that requires no gas pipeline, strip mine, or oil tanker. Wind energy can make a substantial contribution to the electric power needs of Long Island." The LIPA request for proposals is for a minimum of 100 megawatts (MW) and a maximum of 140 MW of offshore generating capacity. There are currently no offshore wind parks operating in the United States, although several projects have been proposed along the Eastern seaboard. Offshore wind parks operate in Europe, where investment in the technology is booming. "New York is blazing a trail among the states in its effort to tap its abundant renewable energy potential, thanks to the outstanding leadership of Governor Pataki on this issue and to the Long Island Power Authority's decision to purchase offshore wind power -- a first for the United States," said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. The LIPA RFP follows a study entitled "Long Island's Offshore Wind Energy Development Potential: A Preliminary Assessment" released in April of last year. The study was requested by Governor George Pataki, and co-funded by LIPA and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The study shows that harnessing the wind to produce electricity for Long Island has tremendous potential and that some 5,200 MW of power could be developed. The study and RFP can be downloaded from www.lioffshorewindenergy.org. Working with the local, state and federal entities that have oversight on the development of such a project, it will take two to three years to plan, review, approve, and construct approximately 100-140 MW of offshore generating capacity. Gov. Pataki's Renewables Portfolio Standard would require utilities to increase the percentage of electricity coming from renewable sources to 25% by 2012, up from about 17% today. ### AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy |
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©
2002 by the American Wind Energy Association. |
