How many wind turbines will be part of the Plum Island Wind Park?
A.
A maximum of three. The Plum Island Wind Park is a small-scale offshore wind energy research, development and demonstration pilot project.
Q.
Where will they be located?
A.
The project will be located in the waters off the southeastern shores of Plum Island more than two miles east of Orient Point, on the northeast tip of Long Island, New York.
Q.
How much power will they produce?
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The wind turbines will produce up to 10.8 megawatts of electricity – enough to power up to 4,000 homes.
Q.
Is the Plum Island project related to the proposed LIPA wind park?
A.
No. The projects are not connected in any way. LIPA is proposing a project with 40 wind turbines that will generate 140 megawatts of electricity. Our proposed project is small in scale and intended to provide a research platform to study environmental impacts, develop a new technology, and demonstrate offshore wind energy to the general public in U.S. coastal waters.
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What will the Plum Island Wind Park demonstrate?
A.
One important goal is to demonstrate a new technology, known as a Mobile Self-Installing Platform (MSIP), which makes it possible to deploy wind farms 12-20 miles offshore.
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How is this new technology different?
A.
The Mobile Self-Installing Platform allows for deepwater placement of wind farms at economically competitive costs. This technology enables wind turbines to be fully assembled in port on their bases, then towed to the project site. This reduces installation costs and enables the placement of future large-scale wind farms in water depths of up to 150 feet – as far as 20 miles off the coast. Current technology requires wind turbines to be erected in areas where water depths are less than 70 feet and assembled at the site. One of the Plum Island Wind Park turbines will be mounted on an MSIP, which will serve as the prototype for future deep water offshore wind farms.
To view a video simulation of this new developmental technology: <click here>
Q.
Who is paying for the Plum Island Wind Park?
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It is 100 percent privately funded by Winergy Power LLC, a private wind energy company. There is no cost to taxpayers or Long Island ratepayers.
Q.
Will the public be able to view Plum Island Wind Park?
A.
Yes. This demonstration project is designed to allow the public, government officials, regulators and others to see modern offshore wind turbines in operation. Universities will be invited to participate in offshore wind studies, along with government agencies.
Q.
What about the effects on wildlife?
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Plum Island Wind Park will serve as a research platform for universities and government agencies to study the environmental impacts of offshore wind turbines on a small scale.
Q.
Who will be reviewing this project?
A.
Plum Island Wind Park will require a full suite of approvals from Federal, state and local agencies. Among the agencies that will review the project at various stages are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of State, New York State Office of General Services and New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Q.
What are the benefits for Long Island?
A.
Plum Island Wind Park will produce electricity from a clean, unlimited, renewable resource in a way that is environmentally friendly and economically competitive. The up to 10.8 megawatts of power produced will provide all the annual electricity needs of up to 4,000 homes. In addition, it will eliminate the need to burn more than 68,000 barrels of oil per year to generate the same amount of electricity. In addition to positioning Long Island as national leader in offshore wind energy, the project is an important step to helping Long Island move away from the consumption of fossil fuels for energy, as well as its reliance on imported oil.
Q.
Why this location?
A.
It is not cost-feasible to place a pilot R&D project in deep water due to the considerable cost of laying cable 12-15 miles from shore to connect the three turbines to the power grid. The site was selected because of its relatively remote, yet accessible location. The area has wind speeds of class 6, which are economically viable for wind development and is near an onshore electric substation.
