Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2006

BY LETICIA THEODORE

On Jan. 1, 2006, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce switched to wind power turning the switch in favor of environmental conservation and alternative energy. The Chamber’s downtown Brooklyn offices are now powered by a Consolidated Edison program called ConEdison Solutions which partners the utility with Community Energy, Inc., a leading supplier of wind energy, and the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

“For a small increase in our annual electric bill, we have been able to do the right thing by switching entirely to wind power. We want our Chamber Members and other Brooklyn businesses to make the switch to alternative energy sources,” said Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams. “We all must promote environmental conservation while we lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. This is not hard to do – but we couldn’t suggest it to others if we didn’t do it ourselves. Now our message is clear.”

The goal of the program is to get commercial, industrial and institutional facilities to use NewWind Energy in New York City, Westchester, Orange and Rockland Counties. Wind generated electricity uses no fuel so there are no toxic emissions like traditional energy facilities which are known to release carbon, green-house gases and contribute to acid rain.

Wind power is gaining as one of the fastest growing energy sources worldwide. From Cape Point, South Africa to South Tamil Nadu, India and across the United Kingdom and the United States, wind power is being seen as a way to address the worldwide energy crisis.

How Does it Work?
The contract signed by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce means wind energy will be supplied by wind farms located Upstate New York. These farms contain wind turbines that produce energy. A 1.5 megawatt turbine produces 4 million kilowatt hours a year. That’s the equivalent of planting close to 300,000 trees or eliminating 3.8 million miles of automobile traffic.

Purchasing wind energy means wind generated power will enter the local power grid on your behalf thereby lowering the need for energy from other sources like fossil fuels. A business or household already receives a mix of energy, but purchasing green power, as it is sometimes called, means a cleaner mix. Participation in a wind energy program increases the demand for clean energy in the region. This spurs the development of wind farms, which in turn creates jobs, increases and diversifies the state’s power supply and makes the region more self sufficient by reducing dependence on outside sources for energy, including foreign oil. So far, wind farms have been set up in 30 states.

Upstate New York dairy farmers in Lewis County near Lake Ontario welcomed the 195-turbine Maple Ridge Wind Farm – and the $5,000-$10,000 annual royalty offered for each of the turbines on their land, which they could use for pasture or other productive purposes.

Rural communities tend to welcome wind farms because they provide income to farmers and ranchers, skilled jobs, cheap electricity, and additional tax revenue to upgrade schools and maintain roads.

“As more businesses buy into wind power to meet their energy needs, prices will further decline, and New York City will be in a better position to meet its increasing energy demands in an environmentally sound way,” said Randolph Peers, the Chamber’s Vice President for Economic Development.  “Furthermore, upstate rural areas, whose economies have been struggling over the last decade, will have a new source of revenue and jobs that are sustainable over the long haul.  I can’t think of a better win-win scenario.”

Competitive Pricing
Green power is slightly more expensive than traditional energy supplies in a number of markets like the North East because of the capital investment of developing and constructing a wind farm, but the prices are 80% less than they were just 25 years ago.

As the industry grows, prices continue to decline. For instance green power is generally less expensive than conventional power in markets like Texas.

For more information about Community Energy and wind power, visit the company's Web site at http://www.communityenergy.biz/.