There Is Electricity In The Air

Orient Point Might Get The First Offshore Wind Farm In The Country

By Debbie Tuma

The eastern shores of Orient Point may become the first site in the country to have an offshore wind farm, if a proposed plan by a Haupauge-based energy company goes through. This could be a very good thing.

Winergy Power LLC wants to build three, 445-feet-tall turbines southeast of Plum Island, about two and a half miles off Orient Point. This proposed $30 million project would generate electricity, enough to power an estimated 4,000 homes, and that’s all just to start. In the future, another eastern location may be developed for another wind farm.

Since this proposed wind farm would be located in state waters, The New York State Department of State would be the lead agency in reviewing the plans, but so far Winergy has not filed a permit application. If both the Town of Southold and State Department agree to this plan, it would still need approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There would be a 10-year research and development plan, whereby people would get to view and understand how the proposed wind turbines would work.

Dennis Quaranta, President of Winergy, has stated that although there are over 400 offshore wind farms around the world, so far this would be the first in the U.S.

Southold Councilman Albert Krupski said this week that, although the Southold Town Board has no jurisdiction over the proposed Winergy turbines, since they would be located in state waters, he is in favor of trying wind energy in his area. “Our town just started a Renewable Energy Committee, and they did research on different systems that could serve agriculture on the East End,” he said. “They also wrote up a code to propose for adoption.” He said, “I feel in general that wind power is the way to go. We’re moving forward to allow private companies to use alternative energy sources.”

The wind farm idea for Orient Point has received mixed feelings on the matter. County Legislator Wayne Horsley (D-Lindenhurst) had been opposed to putting wind turbines off Babylon Town District, but supports them off Orient, citing that it poses no risk to ratepayers, and its potential is greater.

Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island, said he is in favor of becoming less dependent on fossil fuel, and he is interested in looking into wind turbines in different Long Island areas.

But some Southold politicians say they worry about bird migration in the Orient Point area, and wonder about the environmental factors of this location. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell expressed concerns about the safety of birds during a recent town meeting, saying this area is “a significant bird migratory area.”

Maureen Cullinane, President of the North Fork Audubon Society, and a resident of Orient, said her group is in the process of writing a management plan for this “important bird area.” She said although her group supports wind energy, they must make sure the birds are protected and not adversely affected by these turbines.

The proposed wind energy plan calls for the construction of three wind turbines in water about 30-40 feet deep, located about 15-20 miles out to sea, which would not pose an aesthetic problem.

The proposed Winergy idea for Orient is still on the drawing table, and still being checked out at meetings around Southold Town. It is one way to deal with the rising fuel costs on Long Island, and to find better uses of alternative energy. Eastern Long Island is one of the areas of most wind in the country, and wind turbines have also been considered over the years at other locations, including Montauk Point