Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Staten Island poised to host New York City's first wind farm
Former Fresh Kills Landfill Only Site in City Tested and Proven Suitable for a Wind Farm
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today applauded Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to develop new sources of renewable energy, and pointed to the former Fresh Kills landfill as the only site in New York City that has been tested and found suitable for a wind farm.
At a National Clean Energy Summit yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced New York City’s first steps toward developing new sources of renewable energy, including off-shore wind farms and wind turbines on top of bridges and skyscrapers.
“I am glad that the Mayor’s bold and visionary PlaNYC, that seeks new approaches to improve the City’s long-term energy outlook, sees the promise and necessity of wind power,” said Molinaro. “This clean, limitless energy resource will make an important positive difference in our environment and help meet the Mayor’s goal for a greener New York by the year 2030.
“If we are serious about reducing pollution, promoting environmentally-friendly power, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, which funds terrorism throughout the world, then we should support wind energy,” Molinaro added.
“We can start right here on Staten Island,” Molinaro continued. “Fresh Kills, one of the country’s worst ecological nightmares, is poised to become New York City’s first wind farm. It is the only site in the City that has been tested and proven suitable for a wind farm.”
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 wind farm could generate enough clean, renewable energy to power as many as 5,000 homes,” said Molinaro. “That’s equal to 4.3 million gallons of oil, so we would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and it wouldn’t cost the City a dime.
“Private companies would compete for a lease to develop a wind farm at Fresh Kills at their own expense, at absolutely no cost to taxpayers,” added Molinaro. “All that is needed is for the City to begin the process.
“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.”
In the meantime, Borough President Molinaro invites Staten Islanders to a public hearing on Fresh Kills on Thursday, September 4, at 7:30 p.m. at P.S. 58, located at 77 Marsh Avenue, behind the Staten Island Mall. The topics will be the creation of a wind farm, as well as opening the existing roads at the former landfill to alleviate traffic congestion.
“I would also urge Staten Islanders to contact the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the City Parks Department and ask them to support wind power at Fresh Kills,” Molinaro concluded. “It will not solve all of our energy needs, but it will play an important part in our country’s energy independence.”
August 20, 2008