Lakes Ontario, Erie eyed for wind turbines

Some Canadians claim that on clear days, they can see the now-defunct Russell Station in Greece from the province of Ontario.

Soon they may be seeing a series of lake-based wind turbines in the water along the coasts of Rochester and Wayne County.

The New York Power Authority has raised the issue of wind power from lake-based turbines before, but on Tuesday it formally requested proposals from private developers.

The developers would build, operate and decommission wind turbines in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, according to Richard Kessel, president and CEO of the power authority.

Depending on the timing of delivery, the wind turbines in the water could be a North American first.

The proposed wind farm would generate between 300 megawatts and 500 megawatts, he said, and would sell its juice to the power authority, which would then sell it to the New York Independent System Operator, which runs the state grid.

While ruling nothing out, the power authority released feasibility maps showing that the best Lake Ontario areas are north of Oswego, Rochester, Wayne County and Niagara County.

Lake Erie's feasible areas stretch longer, wider and more consistently, from west of Lackawanna, Erie County, to north of the Pennsylvania border.

Kessel said lake areas not in the feasibility areas could be considered for the project, which would require approval and coordination from a number of state and federal agencies.

"We don't want to close ourselves off to anything," said Kessel.

The power would be part of New York state's goal to get 45 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2015.

Mike Townsend, chairman of the power authority and a Perinton attorney for Harris Beach LLP, said he desires to get Rochester cheaper electricity for businesses.

However, the wind power will not be as cheap as New York's bountiful hydropower, said Kessel.

Mark Peterson, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, said he has long supported the concept of lake-based wind farms, and added New York's electricity costs and availability will continue to be an ongoing issue for state businesses.

The due date for proposals is June 1.

Any plan is likely to raise the ire of some seeking to protect the aesthetics of the lakes, or migrating birds.

Cape Wind Associates LLC is seeking to build water-based turbines in Nantucket Sound. The plan has drawn criticism because of possible risk to birds.