NYPA wants wind farm in WNY - Business First of Buffalo:

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With a cold wind whipping at his back and a modeol wind turbine tohis left, NYPA Presidentt and CEO Richard Kessel provided details Wednesdag morning at Erie Basin Marina. Kessel referenced Gov. Davifd Paterson’s goal of achieving 45 percent of electricity needs throughg renewable powerby 2015. “Earth Day providesd the perfect moment to launchh thelargest commercial-scale wind power initiative for the Great In recognition of NYPA’s commitment to the environmentt and support of Gov.
David Paterson’s ‘45 by 15’ the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project has the promise to bringmore clean, renewabl e energy to upstate homes and and greater prosperity through wind industry jobs,” Kessel A request for proposals (RFP) to examine technicalp issues related to the viability of such projectsx is expected to be released before the end of the To carry out the initiative, Kessel said NYPA is lookinhg for interest from wind developer s to build and support 120 megawattsx of clean renewable energy to be used in Western New York.
NYPA is supportec by wind power proponentsxincluding , the , the , state and local environmentaol organizations, wind power developers and the . Those entitiesz would gather a wide rangreof environmental, economic development, financial and other information to serve as the foundatiom for the possible installation of wind powetr projects by one or more privatew wind power developers, sized to a minimumk of 120 megawatts. Kessel said NYPA would take a clos e look at how the projectt wouldaffect fish, wildlifed and the lakes.
He anticipates working closely with environmentao and citizen groups to get their thoughtsd and hear their concerns and said the projectr could foster jobcreatioj opportunities, including manufacturing parts and equipmentt for the project in Western New York. In a statement release d by NYPA, Paterson said, “Harnessing the power of wind is critical to achievingy that goal and the Great Lakes Offshorre Wind Project will help us reach it.” The Request for Expressions of Interest can be accessed at The deadline for receipt of these proposalss is June 15.