Wind Energy

This is the fastest-growing energy resource in the world today. Large-scale windfarms are delivering pollution free electricity on a utility scale. Smaller systems are beginning to bring power to local villages and urban buildings throughout the globe.

New York may be among the first in the nation to exploit the potential of wind generation. A plan for a 144 megawatt wind farm off Jones Beach on Long Island is under construction. This could preclude the construction of a coal burning plant here in the city. In coastal Massachusetts, Cape Wind Associates has proposed an offshore wind farm in Horseshoe Shoals in Nantucket Sound. It is a 468 megawatt capacity to supply energy to 117,000 homes. The project has encountered both strong support and resistance in the community.

When completed, the 130 turbines will not seriously affect water quality, fishing conditions, or noise levels. Yet the construction phase will temporarily have some impact on the local ecosystem. The people who live in the area feel that huge wind turbines would spoil the scenery.

Click here for more information on Wind Energy: www.awea.org