3/13/08 Warsaw Country Courier, Wyoming County, NY
Editor,
A letter published in Warsaw's Country Courier on March 6 questioned some of the benefits associated with wind power because the author believes that those in the wind industry are the only ones promoting them. Bellow are some claims provided by government and energy experts based on peer-reviewed, publicly scrutinized studies and reports.
The 2002 NY State Energy Plan, a document produced by experts in energy and environmental policies, states that the "use of renewable energy provides a number of benefits. These can be broadly defined as:
- Increased energy diversity and security;
- Reduction in air emissions (particulates, NOx, SOx, greenhouse gases);
- Economic development opportunities; and
- Distributed generation.
The Energy Plan concludes that, "dependence on a limited number of energy resources can lead to greater potential for fuel supply interruptions, greater price volatility, and ultimately affect energy and economic security. Energy from renewable resources, such as wind and solar, is not fuel dependent, and therefore, is not subject to the effects of natural and artificial fuel supply constraints."
More recently, in summarizing the progress of New York's Renewable portfolio Standard, the Public Service Commission and NYSERDA estimated that the renewables facilities participating in the program would invest more than 1.9 billion to construct the renewable generation facilities awarded contracts under the RPS.
According to NYSERDA, "these investments have the potential to yield more than $720 million of in-state economic benefits over a 20-year period. In addition to these significant economic benefits, the facilities awarded contracts under the RPS could result in potential reductions of 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, 4,400 tons of sulfur dioxides, and 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide per year." Importantly, the facilities NYSERDA studied account for only slightly more than 25% of the state's goal for renewable energy, so these benefits will multiply substantially in the coming years. These are the words of NYSERDA and the Public Service Commission, not the wind industry.
In addition to the environmental and economic development benefits, the Public Service commission (not the industry) estimated that the increased use of renewable resources associated with the RPS would reduce wholesale prices for electricity by $362 million.
As for the letter writer's insistence that taxpayer money is being spent developing a wind resource that isn't viable, it is a fact that no tax payer money has been invested at all in the development of the Dairy Hills Wind Farm. In fact, Horizon reimburses the Town for any expenses it incurs related to the review of the project.
Further, it is not practical to say that a wind resource cannot be developed because it is a Class 2 resource. The energy market ultimately determines which resources are viable and which are not. New York has long suffered from high energy prices, due largely to the fact that it is "at the end of the pipeline" and must import resources like natural gas, coal, and oil from distant sources. The price for these fuels continues to climb.
Wind represents an indigenous fuel that cannot be depleted and is not subject to price volatility or supply disruptions. There are no emissions. Just because the output of the windfarm fluctuates does not mean it will not produce environmental benefits. Demand on the grid fluctuates constantly, too. Power plants ramp up and down to match that demand. The New York System Operator, which is responsible for the reliability of the grid in New York, accepts that wind facilities can reach as much as 10 percent of the installed generating capacity in the State (more than 3,000 megawatts0 without changing the way the grid performs.
Lastly, the author seems concerned about "foreign ownership" of Horizon Wind Energy. It's ironic that those concerned about foreign investment in the local economy seem to check those concerns at the gas pump. Ninety percent of the petroleum consumed in New York State is imported from outside the U.S. Money spent on gasoline is siphoned out of the U.S. economy to parts of the world that do not necessarily share our values or best interests. By contrast, Horizon and its parent company, EDP, are investing in rural communities across the the country to develop an inexhaustible energy resource that keeps a significant portion of our energy dollars in our own economy.
The experts responsible for energy planning, energy policy and energy operations seem to agree that wind power will produce benefits. Peer-reviewed studies support their claims. Where is the evidence to the contrary?
Sincerely,
Gary Davidson
Horizon Wind Energy Public Affairs Manager
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