Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro: let’s develop NYC’s 1st wind farm at Fresh Kills; We can’t take a back seat to New Jersey!
City of Linden considers development of wind farm at its former landfill
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today urged the City to move forward with his Fresh Kills wind farm plan before the New Jersey city of Linden develops its former landfill into one of that state’s first energy farms.
“Fresh Kills is the only site in New York City that has been tested and found suitable for a wind farm,” said Molinaro. “All that is needed is for the City to begin the process. Let’s not take a back seat to New Jersey!”
The 55-acre Linden, N.J., former landfill, which rises 11 stories above the Rahway River, could soon be home to five wind turbines that would produce electricity for the maintenance facilities located on the landfill itself.
Borough President Molinaro said he is hopeful that Mayor Bloomberg’s recently-announced plan to develop new sources of renewable energy will move his Fresh Kills wind farm plan forward.
“Fresh Kills, one of the country’s worst ecological nightmares, is poised to become New York City’s first wind farm,” said Molinaro. “This wind farm could generate enough clean, renewable energy to power as many as 5,000 homes. That’s equal to 4.3 million gallons of oil, so we would reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Last year, a 14-month feasibility study conducted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency and upstate BQ Energy concluded that there is enough wind at Fresh Kills to sustain a wind farm. Seven 400-foot wind turbines would generate 17.5 megawatts of energy, which is equal to 3% of Staten Island’s energy use.
“This project won’t cost the City a dime,” Molinaro said. “Private companies with a track record I wind energy will compete for a lease to develop a wind farm at Fresh Kills at their own expense, at absolutely no cost to taxpayers.
“Surprisingly, what’s preventing this important project from moving forward is the regulatory agencies involved,” Molinaro continued. “I have heard every possible excuse as to why this project cannot progress, ranging from the ridiculous – windmills kill too many birds – to the physically incorrect – landfills cannot physically support windmills.
“But we are moving forward,” Molinaro said. “I will be meeting with Robert Lieber, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, to discuss my Fresh Kills plan. I have also invited T. Boone Pickens to Staten Island to discuss his ‘Pickens Plan” for cutting America’s demand for foreign oil, and how my Fresh Kills plan can help.”
September 9, 2008