Critics Dismiss NYC’s Plan for Wind Turbines

August 21, 2008

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed to install wind turbines on top of the city’s skyscrapers and bridges, as well as off the coastline of Queens and Brooklyn. However, the proposal is facing criticism from architects, engineers and energy experts, New York Times reports.

The city is eying the windy coast off Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island for turbines that could generate 10 percent of the city’s electricity needs within 10 years.

However, critics say that even if the turbines are capable of generating 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the city grid’s operators may only be able to count on 100 megawatts, or less than 1 percent of peak demand.

What’s more, the smaller turbines that Bloomberg is proposing, are not cost-efficient in terms of kilowatts per hour produced.

Experts also say that skyscrapers will have to be retrofitted to accommodate the extra weight, vibration and swaying of the turbines.

Instead, critics are recommending solar panels. In April, New York City’s Department of Administrative Services announced plans for private solar developers to purchase, install, own and maintain solar panels on city-owned buildings in all five boroughs as part of PlaNYC.

Recent figures from New Energy Finance also reveals that solar thermal electricity generation is one of the hottest sectors in clean energy.

New York is one of the 10 states participating in a regional cap-and-trade program.

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