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WindWorks FAQs - Additional questions |
WindWorks FAQs - Additional questions
Frequently Asked Questions
On the Proposed Long Island Offshore
(click on a question below to jump to respective answer)
Questions:
Answers:
What is the construction process?
The construction of the Wind Park is expected to occur over a seven month period. In order to ensure a single season installation period, certain construction activities may take place 24-hours per day, 7-days per week. A pile driving vessel(s) would install the foundation piles. If a purpose built vessel (e.g., wind turbine erecting ship) is used for tower and turbine erection, this vessel would make periodic round-trips between the Project area and the staging area at Bayonne, NJ. If tower and turbine erection is accomplished from a jack-up barge, then there would be several support vessels replenishing the jack-up vessel from the staging area. Due to the demand of these vessels for ongoing offshore wind projects in Europe, the availability of these vessels is currently being reviewed. Various support vessels would shuttle materials and personnel between the staging area and the Site. It may also be possible that some personnel may commute by helicopter. There would also be cable installation vessels for both the 138 kV transmission cable and the 34.5 kV collector cables. Where will construction equipment be placed?
A 25-acre commercial/industrial site on an existing pier in Bayonne, New Jersey, is currently being proposed as a construction laydown/staging area. The owner of the site currently leases this and adjacent properties to a wide range of users. The site has existing deepwater access and no dredging, additional permits or approvals would be required. Impacts associated with use of a staging and laydown area will be presented during the environmental review and permitting processes. Only temporary staging areas are expected to be needed for the cable from the Sterling Substation to the offshore substation.
Who is responsible for decommissioning?
The decommissioning plans will be determined in the permitting process. It is expected to essentially be the reverse of the installation phase. The wind turbines generators, towers, electrical substation platform, and all foundations cut below the seabed would be removed with a crane, or series of cranes, mounted on either a purpose built ship or jack-up barge. As part of the environmental review and permitting processes, consideration will be made to the viability of utilizing appropriate wind turbine sections, e.g., towers, cut foundation, for creating artificial reefs as is currently done with many disposed metal materials. LIPA told the builder that LIPA would be responsible for decommissioning.
Is it true that Germany, the country with the greatest amount of wind turbine capacity, is halting its wind energy programs?
Not at all. The study often referred to was conducted by the German Energy Agency and was focused on what would be needed for their transmission grid to be able to handle the additional planned and proposed wind power projects. The study stated there would be an additional cost of approximately one dollar per month per household to be able to have 20% of their electricity come from renewable resources. The head of the agency actually said that while energy efficiency measures are the most cost effective you need to install renewable generation at the same time to have the greatest effect. Additionally, it is important to note that Germany is far from dismantling their wind farms; in fact, they will be increasing their wind capacity three-fold, from now until 2020, to nearly 50,000 MW. That is approximately 8 times greater than current US wind generation. ( www.deutsche-energie-agentur.de/page/index.php?id=717&L=4)
Why not just implement more energy efficiency/ conservation?
Both New York state and LIPA have some of the most aggressive energy efficiency programs in the country. Despite these very aggressive programs, overall electricity demand continues to increase on an annual basis. LIPA’s Energy Plan 2004 to 2013 analyzes energy needs on Long Island over a 10-year period. Education programs and demand side management coupled with energy efficiency are not sufficient to meet the demand for electricity on Long Island. Energy development is necessary to meet the demand, and the Wind Project is part of LIPA’s program to meet this demand.
From 1999 through December 31, 2005, LIPA’s Clean Energy Initiative, including Research and Development efforts, has resulted in 1,344 gigawatt hours of energy saved and/or produced, which resulted in reduced emissions of 938,598 tons of carbon dioxide, 1,336 tons of nitrogen oxides and 4,305 tons of sulfur dioxides.
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