wind energy in new york state: opportunities & challenges
DESCRIPTION
This presentation is an amended version of the workshop that was presented to the 12th Annual North Country Sustainable Energy Fair on Saturday April 28, 2007. For more information please visit us on the web at www.noblepower.com or write to us at [email protected]TRANSCRIPT
Wind Energy in New York State:Opportunities & Challenges
Presented by Allison Finley forThe 12th Annual North Country Sustainable Energy Fair,
Canton, NY
April 28, 2007
This presentation is an amended version of the workshop that was presented to the 12th Annual North Country SustainableEnergy Fair on Saturday April 28, 2007.
For more information please visit us on the web at www.noblepower.com or write to
us at [email protected]
Presentation OverviewPart I: About Noble
Part II: Opportunities, Benefits and Challenges of Windpark Development in New York State
Part III: Myths and Facts
Part I: Who is Noble
Environmental Power?
Who is Noble Environmental Power?
Noble is a leading renewable energy company committed to creating environmentally friendly facilities in partnership with local communities.
Noble is majority-owned by J.P. Morgan Partners Fund
Noble was formed in 2004 in response to public policy initiatives
Headquartered in Essex, CT, Noble has regional offices across NYS
Noble currently employs about 100 people
Where Does Noble
Have Windparks?
Siting Considerations
Wind Resource Assessment
Access to Transmission
Land Use
Environmental Assessment
Preliminary Site Design
New York State
(230 kV and above)
Legend:
Niagara
Oswego
OakdaleFraser
Marcy
Massena
Moses
Chateauguay
Plattsburgh
GilboaAlps
Clay
Lafayette
Watercure
Stolle Rd.
EdicPorter
Rotterdam
PleasantValley
Coopers Corners
Rock Tavern
Roseton
Buchanan
RamapoSprainbrook
Dunwoodie
765 kV
345 kV230 kV Goethals
Complex
Homer City
Shore Rd.E.Garden City
HuntleyPannell
Sta.80
Transmission System
Somerset
500 kV
Adirondack
Dunkirk
Meyer
Willis
NewScotland
Leeds
Hillside
Millwood
Farragut
W49St/Rainey
New YorkNew York’’s Electrical Systems Electrical System
10,775 miles of High Voltage Transmission360+ individual generating units.Installed Capacity 35,000+ MW
Source: NYISO 2004 Electricity Markets Overview Presentation
Noble plans to own and operate its facilities. We are investing in a long relationship and
want to be excellent neighbors.
Part II: Opportunities, Benefits
& Challenges -
Wind Energy in
New York State
The Benefits of Wind Energy:
Good for our Energy Future
Good for the Environment
Good for the Local Economy
Good for our Energy Future: Challenges in New York, the Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind
Clean, Plentiful, Renewable Energy
Diversified Power Generation Sources
Price of Electricity from Wind
We Need More Generation Capacity
Energy Security in Uncertain Times
Good for our Energy Future:Clean, Plentiful, Renewable Energy
NY State has adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS):
Requires 25% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2013
Currently, NY’s energy mix contains 19% energy from renewable sources
Wind energy has potential to provide 10% of New York State’s energy
Good for our Energy Future:Diversified Power Generation Sources
Good for our Energy Future: We Need New Generation Capacity
Demand for energy increases every year
Supply isn’t keeping up with demand
Some additional capacity is being added to the New York grid here and there, but it’s not enough
The only new power plants being built run on natural gas – the most expensive fuel there is!
Noble plans to add 385 MW of wind power to the New York grid in 2007, and 380 MW in 2008
Breaking Records: New York Peak Load 1997-2006
26,00027,00028,00029,00030,00031,00032,00033,00034,00035,000
July 15,1997
July 6,1999
Aug 9,2001
July 26,2005
July 17,2006
Aug 1,2006
Aug 2,2006
HENRY HUB NATURAL GAS PRICE WEEKLY DATA
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$14
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
($/MMBTU)
Hurricane Andrew
March 1993 Blizzard
January 1994 Blizzard
Massive Cold Front and Well Freeze Off
Early Winter 1996/97
Hurricane D
Technical Factors
Hurricane Georges
Excess Storage and Mild Winter
Source: NGW and EVA, Inc.
Coldest Nov/Dec on Record/S.T. Demand > S.T. Supply
Declining production for six quarters
Mild Winter Hurricane Opal
January 1996
Blizzard
HurricaneIvan
Hurricane Katrina
Chronological Highlights byJim Lazar, Consulting Economist
The Regulatory Assistance ProjectGraph Data Source: NGW and EVA, Inc.
Baseload, Intermittent, and Peak Generationvs. 24-hour Demand Curve
12:00 midnight
12:00 noon
12:00 midnight
Baseload
Peak
Nuclear
Steam Turbine Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
Combustion Turbine Gas
Intermittent Generation (Hydro, Wind)
Demand
Good for our Energy Future: Energy Security in Uncertain Times
“Home-grown” energy
Decreases reliance on non-renewable supplies from unstable parts of the world
President Bush calls for 20% of national energy to come from wind (Advanced Energy Initiative, Feb. 2006)
Good for the Environment
Zero Air and Water Emissions, Zero Hazardous Waste
Minimally Impacts Wildlife, Natural Habitat
Good for the Environment: Zero Air and Water Emissions, Zero Hazardous Waste
Burning fossil fuels to make electricity releases toxins into our air and water:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – global warmingSulfur dioxide (SO2) – acid rainNitrous oxides (NOX) – smogMercury and lead – impair neurological development
Nuclear power is emission free, but creates radioactive waste
Good for the Environment: Windparks Minimally Impact Wildlife, Natural Habitat
Wildlife needs clean air and water, too!
No build-up of toxic mercury in environment and biological food chain, i.e. fish
Preserves open space, providing more habitat
Responsibly sited windparks do not pose a threat to avian and bat species
Good for the Local Economy
Creates Jobs
Helps to Stabilize Electricity Costs State Wide
Promising Job Future
Good for the Local Economy: A 100 MW Windpark Creates Jobs, Tax Revenue
Hundreds of short term jobs during construction phase, several permanent jobs once operational
Wind parks create 27% more jobs per kilowatt hour than coal and natural gas plants
Payments to host communities can be used to reduce local taxes, improve schools, services, infrastructure
Lease payments to participating land owners are also significant source of income
Over 20 years, the economic impact of Noble’s three 2006
North Country windparks is estimated to be
$360,000,000
GE orders propel port activity By Eric Anderson, Deputy business editor Albany Times Union -Wednesday, April 26, 2006Work at Albany docks is picking up as wind turbine blades, sugar pass through.
Good for the Local Economy: Stabilizes Local Electricity Costs
Price of electricity from most sources is affected by fuel prices (esp. natural gas) – but not wind!
Most fossil-fuel based generators won’t enter into long-term (> 3 year) contracts, and even then, they may require a “fuel price adder”as protection against rising fuel prices
Wind generators are generally happy to sign 10 or 15 year contracts improves stability of electricity prices
GE Energy Study – Noble’s seven New York windparks will save ratepayers $40,000,000 annually in electricity prices
Buying coal, oil, and gas sends New York dollars out of state -- wind projects keep energy dollars in state
Good for the Future: A Promising Job Future For The Next Generation of Rural New Yorkers
An emerging market for permanent operations and maintenance jobs
New opportunities for college degrees: SUNY Canton Alternative and Renewable Energy Applications degree program
Good for rural economic development and homegrown industry jobs, reinvigorating rural NYS
Property values
Wind energy is expensive
Birds / wildlife
Noise
Reliability
Infrasound
Electromagnetic interference (EMI)
Shadow Flicker
Part III. Myths and Facts
Myth:
“Wind turbines lower property values.”
FACT: Multiple studies have shown that wind turbines do not cause a decline in property values.If anything, the studies indicate that property values may increase slightly – most likely because of lowered taxes and improved local services.
Myth:
“Wind energy is expensive.”
Don’t let anyone tell you that wind energy is expensive!
Today, wind is one of the least expensive options for new sources of electric generation.
(…and that’s without even factoring in the cost of the environmental impacts from other generation sources…)
Comparing the price of electricity from a new windpark to the price of electricity from a 30 year-old coal plant is meaningless – you have to compare apples to apples.
Myth:
“Wind turbines pose a threat to wildlife such as
birds and bats.”
#1 –Buildings/windows (5,500 per 10,000 deaths)
#2 – Housecats (1,000 per 10,000). Some estimates say cats kill up to a billion birds per year in the U.S.
#3 – high tension lines, vehicles (1,500 per 10,000)
…and wind turbines? On average, about 1.2 birdsper turbine, per year…not biologically significant.
The National and New York Audubon Societiesand the American Bird Conservancy, along with numerous other environmental groups, all support wind power.
FACT: The top three killers of birds in the United States are:
Myth:
“Wind turbines are noisy.”
FACT: Modern wind turbines are very quiet – and the GE 1.5 megawatt turbines that Noble plans to use in New York are one of the quietest turbines made.
A commonly used reference is that at a distance of 750 to 1000 ft., a modern wind turbine is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator or a moderately quiet room. In high-wind conditions, the sound of the wind will be far louder than any sound from the turbine.
Myth:
“Wind energy isn’t reliable.”
FACT: Wind energy is intermittent, but that doesn’t mean it’s unreliable.
Wind energy is actually quite predictable, and studies have shown that New York State could easily get 10% or more of its electricityfrom wind energy without having any negative impact on the grid.
Wind turbines have been in commercial operation around the world for up to twenty years, and wind energy has proven to be highly reliable and predictable.
Myth:
“Wind turbines produce ‘infrasound’ which has
negative impacts on human health.”
FACT: Everything emits infrasound (even you!), but scientists agree that the levels of infrasound from wind turbines are so low that they do not affect anyone’s health.
There are approximately 60,000 wind turbines in operation around the world – some of which have been producing clean energy for twenty years! – and there is absolutely no documented evidence of negative health effects resulting from the operation of wind turbines.
Myth:
“Wind turbines cause ‘shadow flicker’,
an annoying strobe-like effect.”
FACT: Wind turbines may cast moving shadows under the right conditions, but proper sitingcan minimize or eliminate any potential impacts.
Complex computer programs are used to indicate where and when shadowing could occur, so any potential problems can be identified – and mitigated –before the windpark is developed.
Allison FinleyCommunity Outreach, Public Affais
Office: 518.497.3414Mobile: 518.534.1439
Fax: 518.497.3421Email: [email protected]
Noble Environmental Power, LLC8 Railroad Avenue Essex, CT 06426
www.noblepower.com | [email protected]