Solar and wind power provides unlimited source of renewable energy which when used over along term, play a significant role in energy supply. New York City is one of the leading states with extensive wind power resources and wind farms and significant solar resources. Currently, renewable source of energy provides 6% of total energy used in New York City. The State has committed itself to ensure that by 2013, over 25% of total energy will come from renewable sources of energy.
Solar energy has a greater potential to generate electricity for the city of New York and it’s environ. The solar energy technology is available commercially and the buildings offer enough space for solar panels. If fully implemented, solar energy has the capacity to produce over 15,000 MW of power, contributing over 18% of New York City energy requirement. Solar energy requires only a Photovoltaic (PV) Panel, which convert sunlight into electricity. It is estimated that in one year, the amount of solar energy that falls on New York is twice as much as the total energy that the city requires.
The cost of installation of solar energy is relatively high compared to other source energy; this contributes to the slow development of solar energy in New York City. The city also has a unique problem when it comes to harnessing of solar energy as it is characterized by tall buildings which require commercial cranes to carry equipment and panel during installation. The need for long cables to supply the power from the panel and the periodical maintenance due to interconnection make the cost of installation and maintenance to be very high compared to other source of energy. Compared to a state like New Jersey, the cost of installation of solar power in New York City is more than 30%. As a result, the city of New York has only been able to install solar panel that produces only 1.1 MW of solar power.
For the city of New York to achieve long term benefits from solar energy, a number of strategies have to be developed. One strategy suggested by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is the creation of Property Tax Abatement for solar panel installation. In this incentive, 30% of solar installation cost will be covered by NYSEDA in the first three years followed by 20% in the fourth and fifth year. Those New Yorkers who adopt the scheme in the first three years are set to have greater benefits. The federal government through the US Department of Energy (US-DOE) has already awarded funds for solar technical assistance programs. These programmes include studies on the cost effectiveness of solar energy, solution to interconnections issues, study of best sites for solar installation. The finding and recommendations are set to be released this summer for implementation.
Through creative financing, the NYSEDA will enter into contracts with private solar developers who will be invited to build and operate solar panels facilities on New York City buildings. The city authority will in turn buy energy generated by the panels from the private developer. Currently, as per the NYC Legislations, the amount of solar energy that can be added to the main power grid stand at 8.1 MW; to encourage solar energy development, the city will have to revise the legislation to lower the amount of solar energy that can be added to the grid. Another legislation that should be eliminated to make solar energy development more profitable is the regulation requiring that all PV system to be incorporate with power relays which are usually expensive compared to the risk posed by reverse power.
To overcome the issue of installation surfaces for photovoltaic panels in large scale, alternative public access land should be used for this purpose. Such sites includes rail yards, airports hangers and on the city’s highways. The authority can also enter into contracts with private property owners on a lease agreement to install solar panels in the parking lot and on the roof.
Wind energy is an important source of energy for New York City, starting this summer; the city will be purchasing 20 MW of wind energy from wind farm. Already, a second phase of upstate wind farm is being developed. When complete, the farm will be producing over 107 MW of power.
In the Staten Island Borough, the NYSERDA in partnership with BQ energy is in an ambitious plan to develop the Fresh Kills Landfill for solar energy production. In the plan, five windmills will be installed on top of the tallest landfills mound. The turbines which will be installed will have the capacity to generate energy that will serve over 500 homes in the Staten Island Borough. The process of development currently faces a few hurdles like getting clearance from Federal Aviation Administrations due to the proximity of the project to the airport and environmental groups fighting to protect the waterfowl birds from threats posed by the rotating turbines. (Sam Williams, 2006).
The demand for wind energy is very high in New York, many house hold are willing to spend an extra dollar to purchase wind energy. Already, New York University is has elaborate plans to be purchasing 118,000,000 KWh of wind power annually. This is the largest purchase of wind power by any college in the larger United States. This is inline with the University newly adapted Green Action Plan (GAP) initiative. (Sam Williams, 2006),
Horizon wind energy working together with PPM Energy operates the Maple Ridge wind farm, located in Lewis County, producing 60.5 mw and Madison Wind Farm, located in Madison County, producing 11.55 of wind power. This power is sold to New York Power Authority (NYPA) which in turn distributes to various governmental bodies like New York Port Authority, Part of New York City, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Housing Authority and the City University of New York. The New Freedom tower at the world Trade Center site is also set to benefit from the wind energy from NYPA.
It is important to note here that wind power does not pollute the environment as it does not involve burning of fuel. Compared to nuclear plants, wind power helps in saving resources like water, as nuclear plants require millions of litres if water for cooling. Wind power is a proven clean source of energy which is available commercially. Once constructed, wind power facilities do not require any fuel to run. This reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, which are usually characterized with instability in price and supply. Wind power also helps in stabilizing the price of energy and as such, New York City should work hard in developing wind energy (Sam Williams, 2006).
Independent studies have shown that wind energy has created many benefits within the community. In New York City, wind energy expands local tax bases and creates local contracting jobs through maintenance. The cost of distribution of wind energy is low and more reliable. Most of the wind power facilities in New York are found in farms. This is an important source of energy and incomes for farmers as they get their energy from the wind mills and at the same time they are paid through land leases. Through such arrangement, the value of land is increased and farming in New York State is preserved.
One limitation to wind energy is the fact that turbines generate electric energy only when wind blows. Wind conditions around New York City are at times inadequate to effectively generate electricity. In other instances, wind produces electricity when it is not needed. In such instances, the energy is lost as it can not be stored in the supply grid. Many wind farms experience strong wind during the night when energy requirement is low. During summer, when the energy requirement is high, the wind is usually less.
With the rising cost of fuel and increased carbon emission, New York is faced with a daunting task of developing renewable sources of energy that will significantly reduce dependent on imported fuels. There is an urgent need by the relevant authorities to develop renewable source of energy. Currently, renewable sources of energy contribute only 6% of the total energy used in New York City. Solar energy is one of the clean sources of energy that should be developed for the city to realize the full benefits. If expended, solar energy has the capacity to produce significant percentages of the city energy requirements. Various strategies should be developed to overcome various issues blocking the development of solar energy; this includes the high cost of installation and unrealistic government legislation that hinder development of solar energy. Wind energy is currently contributing a significant percentage of NYC energy requirements. There is need to develop more wind mills farms to raise the wind power out put for use in the city.
Reference
New York City’s Solar Energy Future, 2008. Web.
NYC Plan 2030: Renewable Energy, 2008. Web.
Michael R. Bloomberg, New York Mayor (2004) New York City Energy Policy, 2008. Web.
Sam Williams (2006) Wind Power in NYC, 2008. Web.