Plum Island Wind Park is a proposed offshore wind energy research, development and demonstration project.
•
It is a small-scale pilot project designed to allow scientists, educators, government officials, regulators and the general public to see modern offshore wind turbines in operation
•
It provides a research platform to study environmental impacts of wind turbines in the ocean.
PLUM ISLAND WIND PARK FEATURES:
•
The project will be located in waters off the southeastern shore of Plum Island more than two miles east of Orient Point, on the northeast tip of Long Island, New York. The turbines will be situated within a 200-acre area that is currently leased for a commercial fish farming operation.
•
A maximum of three state-of-the-art wind turbines, producing up to 10.8 megawatts of power, will be constructed. They will generate enough electricity to power up to 4,000 homes.
•
The wind turbines will be a maximum of 445 feet tall when the blade is in the upright position.
•
Up to two turbines will be mounted on monopile bases; one will be mounted on a Mobile Self-Installing Platform (MSIP), which will serve as the prototype for future deep water offshore wind farms.
ABOUT MSIP TECHNOLOGY:
•
A major goal of the project is to demonstrate a new technology, known as a Mobile Self-Installing Platform (MSIP), based on a design from the oil and gas industry.
•
This new technology allows the placement of large-scale wind farms 12-20 miles offshore, in water depths of up to 150 feet. The wind turbines are fully assembled in port on their bases, then towed to the project site. Current technology requires wind turbines to be erected in areas where water depths are less than 70 feet and assembled at the site.
To view a video simulation of this new developmental technology <click here>
REGULATORY APPROVAL:
•
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, as well as others.
ABOUT THE SPONSOR:
•
Plum Island Wind Park is a 100-percent privately funded project. There is no cost to taxpayers or Long Island ratepayers.
•
The project is sponsored by Winergy Power LLC, a private wind energy company. Winergy is the sublease-holder of the Plum Island site until 2037.
BENEFITS TO LONG ISLAND:
•
The Plum Island wind turbines will annually generate electricity to power up to 4,000 homes. The project will produce power in a way that is environmentally friendly and economically competitive.
•
The project is an important first step to help Long Island move away from the consumption of fossil fuels for energy, as well as its reliance on imported oil. This will position Long Island as a national leader in offshore wind energy.
•
Plum Island Wind Park will provide valuable educational opportunities. Universities and government agencies will be allowed to conduct studies of offshore wind.
•
In addition, the Plum Island Wind Park will...
—
Generate a maximum of 10.8 megawatts of clean renewable electricity
—
Eliminate the need to burn more than 68,000 barrels of oil per year to generate the same amount of electricity on Long Island
—
Avoid the release of 32,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the air, as well as other pollutants, that would be emitted from an oil-fueled power plant
—
Be constructed at no cost to taxpayers or utility ratepayers
