Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro: President Bush and Gov. Pataki agree wind power is answer to tomorrow’s energy challenges
Fresh Kills Windmills Would Make Island Renewable Energy Capital of New York City
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today pointed to Governor Pataki’s Budget Address and President Bush’s State of the Union Address as validation of his plan for windmills at Fresh Kills as a renewable energy resource.
In their recent speeches, both Bush and Pataki called for domestic energy alternatives to expensive foreign oil. Pataki’s budget provides Empire Zone benefits to companies in the State that are developing clean, renewable energy solutions. Bush announced his Advanced Energy Initiative, a 22 percent increase in financing for clean energy research, including wind technology.
“I am pleased that wind power is being recognized as a clean, cheap, and reliable alternative energy source,” said Molinaro. “Our plan to erect a wind energy facility at the Fresh Kills landfill will tackle tomorrow’s energy challenges today, right here in Staten Island.”
Over the past three years, Molinaro has suggested that as the City moves forward in its Fresh Kills end-use master plan, that it research the use of wind power as a source of renewable, cleaner, low-cost energy.
At Molinaro’s request, BQ Energy will install a meteorological tower at the top of the landfill this month to study the feasibility of establishing windmills to generate electricity to power the planned park on the site. Power could also be sold to the local grid.
“Staten Island is always in the forefront of new innovations,” said Molinaro. “Our downzoning efforts and traffic improvements are being copied in all five boroughs. And now we have an opportunity to make Staten Island the clean, renewable energy capital of New York City.”
February 2, 2006