LIPA Postpones Decision on Wind Farm, Citing Upcoming NYSERDA Report
The Long Island Power Authority’s Board of Trustees has delayed its meeting scheduled for today, at which the board was expected to approve the purchase of 90 megawatts of electricity from a new offshore wind farm proposed off the coast of Montauk.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, LIPA officials said they are postponing the consideration of the offshore wind proposal “to align the proposed Long Island project with the state’s offshore wind master plan and the state’s Clean Energy Standard, both of which are scheduled to be released in the next several weeks.”
LIPA CEO Thomas Falcone jumped the gun on the announcement of the project last week in an interview with the Associated Press.
“This is the first in New York, it’s the largest to date, but we’re looking at this and seeing a tremendous offshore wind resource that will be developed and it’s not the last,” Mr. Falcone told the Associated Press on June 13. “I think this is a very big step … for New York, but also for the United States.”
The proposed wind farm would begin with 15 turbines about 30 miles off the shore of Montauk, constructed by the Rhode Island firm Deepwater Wind, which is currently building a wind farm to power Block Island.
Deepwater Wind has enough space at their site 30 miles off of Montauk to install 200 turbines. The company was granted a 30-year lease on the 256-acre site in 2013 from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
According to LIPA, “There are no time sensitive matters on LIPA’s Board agenda, and the Authority expects to reschedule the meeting after the release of the NYSERDA off-shore wind blueprint. All scheduled committee meetings are postponed as well. LIPA remains committed to its renewable energy goals and meeting the energy needs of the South Fork.”
What study has been done about BIRD STRIKES ? Especially durung spring and fanll migration !
Hi, Rick, here is some info on the study Deepwater Wind did for their Block Island site — they’ll be required to do another study for this site as well. The discussion on avian species begins on page 125. I’d be interested to hear your feedback! http://dwwind.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Environmental-Report.pdf
First I am all for renewable energy. That being said I am torn between that and mortality rates of avain species with wind turbines. The study does admit this possiblity but falsly states that almost all species are common and abundant. ( Migrating warblers in particular)
The study talks about loss of habitat both during and after constuction.
Under “direct Collision” the study also says there is “little information available on fatality rates at operational offshore wind farms” This is not the case because many such studies have been done in europe. They say they will use red FAA lights to avoid collision at night. I don’t know if this is a solution. There are red lights on stuctures everywhere that birds fly into.
The barrier effect is also discussed causing individuals to increse flight distances and therefore result in a reduction in fitness and incresed energy demands.
This is all very complicated and I am no expert in the field it is hoped the company will do all it can to mitigate problems with wildlife. I feel the US Fish & Wildlife service should be more proactive in preparing solutions to this problem.
I also thing we must join the rest of the world in renewable energy projects.