Long Island’s Second Coastal Wind Farm Project, So Close Yet So Far

The proposed wind farm off Long Island’s coast brings back to life a concept that many Long Islanders fought against and defeated. At first glance this clean renewable energy project seems to be different as it relocates the windmills further from shore and out of sight of some of Americas most prized stretches of beach.

Richard Kessel, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority, said the turbines, up to 400 feet high, would be so far off the coast they would be all but impossible to see from land with the naked eye. A 40-turbine project proposed off Jones Beach tanked in 2007 after opposition arose, but those proposed turbines would have been 3 1/2 to 5 miles off the coast. – Newsday

The true cost of the project is yet to be disclosed and will certainly be scrutinized as much or more than the last proposal.

Clean renewable energy reduces our dependence on foreign oil which reduces cost associated in foreign policy and war fighting. Many American and foreign lives are saved by reducing armed conflict associated with energy policy that is incompatible with other nations policies. Let’s face it, we would not be at odds with Middle Eastern cultures if we did not need their oil so desperately.

Whether or not you believe global warming is a threat, this technology is better for the environment. You don’t have to be a meteorologist to understand that the fewer pollutants we put into the atmosphere the better of as humans we are and the better off the planet is without large quantities of these contaminants. It should be noted that these contaminants which only exist in these quantities because of human production.

The last Long Island coastal wind farm project I remember had its problems with proving a worthwhile return on investment. Without being sure what comprised of the cost and funding I would be willing to bet that we have never factored in the true cost of not building renewable energy sooner and in a more ample supply. While it is not advisable to build at any cost I think that even if this project is in the red it should be built with federal aid. Federal aid could be justified because it is an investment in reducing the cost of foreign policy and war fighting as well as saving American lives lost in foreign conflicts.

This project is a clean energy project that represents the newest in emerging technologies which can be deployed in large expansive areas and produce large amounts of energy. Although wind production can produce large amounts of energy it cannot be our soul source for the obvious reasons one of which is when the wind stops blowing the turbines stop producing.

We are at the early stages of developing a comprehensive renewable energy policy using technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and others. A good renewable energy policy will have to strike a balance between the variable applications and true cost of each technology. Only when we can achieve this balance will we re-emerge as a new world energy leader in control of our own foreign policy and environment.

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