11 firms plan wind farms by Steve Orr

The New York Power Authority said Tuesday that 11 companies have indicated they intend to submit proposals for offshore wind farms in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

"I'm shocked that we got so many," said Richard M. Kessel, the authority's president and chief executive. "It certainly shows me that people are taking this very seriously, developers in particular. From what I understand, there are companies from all over the world. I think this project has attracted international attention."

The authority hopes to promote construction of one or more wind farms in the waters of the two Great Lakes that border New York. The agency has said there is room for as many as 1,000 turbines in Lake Ontario and 1,200 in Lake Erie, though it doesn't expect that many to be proposed.

Off the shoreline of Monroe County is one of four broad areas in Lake Ontario that the authority believes are suitable for turbine construction. The turbines likely would be 400 feet or more high and would be at least two miles offshore.

Winds are stronger and more persistent over water, though turbines are more expensive to build.

The authority wants each wind farm to generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity — the same capacity as the Ginna nuclear power plant in Wayne County.

The Power Authority issued a request for proposals in December and asked developers to express interest by last Friday. Formal proposals are due June 1. If all goes as planned, Kessel said one or more projects could be selected by year's end.

"I think it's going to happen. I think its time has come," Kessel said. He said he expected half as many expressions of interest. He declined to identify the 11 firms or provide specifics of their notices to the authority.

While there are more than 25 offshore wind farms in Europe and several under development in Asia, there are none in North America and none in fresh water.

Kessel acknowledged there has been opposition to the authority's plans in some quarters, particularly at Lake Ontario's eastern end. Citizen groups have formed there to oppose the project, and county lawmakers in Jefferson and Oswego counties have gone on record against the concept.

The Wayne County Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing on the idea March 31.

Kessel reiterated earlier statements that the authority would take note of local concerns. "Where there's opposition, we'll go somewhere else. There's lots of room."