New York Project Facts
To help you find the answers you need quickly, we have organized facts and information about the project into the categories listed below. As news and progress occurs, we will update this section with new information. If you have a question or concern that is not covered here, please feel free to contact us. Your questions and feedback enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of New York.
Facts Categories
Can I hear the turbines from the beach?
No. The light whisper of the turbines cannot be heard from shore. Even at their base, the muted sound of spinning blades is drowned out by the waves.
How long will it take to build?
Construction will take about 9 months, but will proceed only after extensive planning, studies, and community dialogue.
How much will it cost to develop?
Approximately $250 to $300 million. A private company, not ratepayers, will put up the money and assume the full risk for any cost overruns. At the end of a 20-25 year contract, the Long Island Power Authority has indicated it will purchase the wind park for a nominal fee and, at its option, may continue to operate the turbines.
How will the wind park appear from Long Island?
A site more than six miles off the coast has been chosen to minimize the wind park’s visual impact. From Jones Beach, the turbines will be noticeable only on the clearest of days as a row of light gray lines the height of half a thumbnail if an outstretched hand. At night, under clear conditions, upwardly directed aviation lights will barely be visible.
What are the benefits to Long Island?
Wind power will diversify our energy portfolio and keep prices in check by creating a hedge against rising oil and gas prices. But the advantages for Long Islanders are even more significant:
It’s Stable. Wind prices are not subject to the volatile fluctuations that result from foreign conflicts or supply shortages. Consumers avoid price spikes and fuel surcharges because costs are locked in for decades at a time.
It’s Clean. Each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by the wind is free of toxic emissions, carcinogens, particulates, pollutants, and waste products, which makes it healthy for humans, wildlife, aquatic life, and the environment. Wind power also protects the coastline, reducing greenhouse gases that cause the sea level to rise and wash away our precious beachfront.
It Fuels the Economy. Additional energy production from Long Island’s greatest untapped natural resource will boost the local economy, creating a number of immediate jobs in construction and many more direct and indirect employment opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance.
It’s Cost-competitive. Unlike fossil fuels, wind is free and inexhaustible. Repeated breakthroughs in technology have reduced the price of wind-generated electricity by more than 80% in the last 20 years. This price is competitive with fossil fuels, and is only expected to drop.
It’s Safe. Harnessing the power of wind does not entail the risk of nuclear accidents or oil spills. In a time of global uncertainty and unrest in the Middle East, replacing power plants with wind turbines removes terrorist targets and helps reduce Long Island’s dependence on foreign oil.
It’s Reliable. An increased supply of low cost, domestic energy will ensure that the lights go on whenever we flick the switch.
How will it affect electricity bills?
Wind energy will provide stability for LIPA’s ratepayers while ensuring a reliable supply of electricity to meet Long Island’s needs now and in the future. An advantage of wind energy is that its price is constant, while the price of natural gas and oil is increasingly erratic.
Will it affect aquatic life?
The foundations of existing offshore wind projects have proved to act as reefs, which attract fish and contribute to healthy ecosystems. Bluewater Wind is committed to building turbines that are friendly to all aquatic life.
What about fishing and boating?
Recreational fishermen are likely to benefit from the artificial reefs created by the foundations. There will be no exclusionary zone around the turbines, which will be spaced sufficiently in order to accommodate fishing vessels, and well marked to meet Coast Guard specifications. Their placement will disrupt neither shipping traffic nor aviation flight patterns. Sailors can hold races using turbines as rounding marks.
Will birds be affected by the turbines?
Overall, wind turbines are much safer for birds and other wildlife than energy produced by fossil fuels, which pollute animals’ habitats and contaminate their food and drinking water. Over 15 years experience of using offshore wind in Europe has shown that offshore wind parks are safe for birds.
