Renewable Energy in NYC

The Major of New York City, Michael Bloomberg,
who has made “energy efficiency the cornerstone of his
administration”, is currently planning on putting wind
turbines above skyscrapers and bridges around the city.

Specifically because of past black outs within New York
City, Bloomberg believes that using wind turbines directly
in the city will allow enough energy produced to back up the
city, without the problem of week power grids.

As I addressed in my previous reports, the United States is
still using a power grid that is not strong enough to transfer
power from wind turbines in rural areas to cities (Like New
York City). While updating the country’s power grid would
be ideal, it is extremely exspenisve and would require going
through numerous state legislaters. Bloomberg’s plan to
place wind turbines directly in an area that needs energy
but can’t neccasarely rely on a power grid to get is basically
the next best thing.

The plan is still in early stages, so which sky scrapers and
bridges will be used in the plan are still un specified, though
Bloomberg acknowledged the importance of city officals
working with property owners to maxamize the efficiency of
the project.

Locations in Queens, Long Island, and Brooklyn will probably
be the first locations in which turbines will be built.
According to the New York Times, these places alone
could generate 10 percent of the city’s electricity needs in
10 years.

Several companies are already experimenting with different
types of “Urban-friendly” wind turbines. Smaller turbines
would be required above buildings, while larger, more
similar to rural turbines would be used on shores and
bridges.

According to researchers, “the iea of renewable power in
New York is realistic”, but expecting a drastic change in
how the city gets it’s power in the next ten years is
unrealistic.

Aside wind turbines, Bloomberg is also interested in using
solar panels above buildings as well. He believes
companies could buy individual panels and sell the energy
produced to residents within the city.