Wind Turbines on NYC Skyscrapers & Bridges

New York City is asking companies to come up with clean energy ideas, including wind power to fuel NYC. The city, released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) that will call for innovative ideas to help New York City develop sources of renewable energy.

Mayor Bloomberg speaking at an energy summit recently spoke about the possibility of placing wind turbines on top of bridges and skyscrapers – saying it would cut the city's electricity needs, save hundreds of millions of dollars, and would ultimately make the city cleaner and more efficient. He also proposed the idea of offshore wind farms, tidal power, solar power and geothermal energy. "It would be a thing of beauty if, when Lady Liberty looks out on the horizon, she not only welcomes new immigrants to our shores, but lights the way with a torch powered by an ocean wind farm," said Bloomberg.

The mayor said "right now energy is the number one issue in America and criticized both presidential candidates. "PlaNYC - is the 'greenprint' for the city's sustainable future. Because New York - like cities across the nation - is filling the leadership vacuum that Washington has left".

In New York, we're determined to do what no other city has ever even attempted: Keep our energy usage at or near its current level even as our population grows. As an example to the private sector, I hope to embarrass the Federal government - if that's possible - our Administration has mapped out a plan to reduce our own energy consumption by our own City agencies 30 percent by the year 2017.

"We'll do that by investing heavily in making our schools, hospitals, police and fire stations - all of our City facilities - more energy-efficient. We estimate that all the City's conservation investments will take an estimated 220-megawatt bite out of New York's peak power demand. And within five years, they'll have paid for themselves. After that, they'll be money-makers".

NYC will be grating property tax breaks that encourage private building owners to go solar. And the State will permit New Yorkers who generate their own solar power to sell what they don't use to other power customers - a real economic incentive for renewable energy.

The text of Mayor Bloomberg's keynote speech

Courtesy of: Mitchell J Hall

Posted Wednesday Sep 03

( 09/03/08 07:40PM ) — Rich Dansereau

This is a wonderful plan! It is great to see a city the size of NYC looking towards the future and committing to something like this.

( 09/03/08 08:30PM ) — Jennifer Fivelsdal, Fishkill NY

Glad to see NYC is committed to finding alternate source of energy to keep cost down and at the same time be more green.

( 09/03/08 09:52PM ) — Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York

Mitchell, I learn so much about the City from your posts. I'm glad the Mayor is addressing Energy issues and didn't know before your other post how many LEED Certified buildings we have! I'm thrilled to hear it.

( 09/03/08 10:14PM ) — Kat Malone, CAM

It's about high time America started making a move toward sustainable energy. It's great to see NYC taking the initiative! I'd like to see more cities doing this.

-Kat

( 09/03/08 11:22PM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Rich, Mayor Bloomberg has been really good about planning for the future. I think wind turbines on bridges will be really cool.

Jennifer, I think the governor is also committed to find alternative energy throghout the state.

Carole, Thank, Most of the new building are being built with some type of solar panels. There is actually a new green concrete that was invented for the Freedom Tower that is now being used all over the city.

Kat, Thanks for stopping by. I think cities are going to have to take the initiative.

( 09/04/08 09:16AM ) — Terry Reuer

Hats off to NYC!

While I have never felt the Federal Government should solve our problems, it would indeed be nice if there was some semblance of leadership there.

I think it is promising to see more about renewable energy in the news, more conversations about it, and more people looking to plan for the future. I hope that this is a sustainable interest, unlike similar conversations in the 70's when we had our last go around with increasing oil prices.

( 09/04/08 10:18AM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Hi Terry, I agree. I think we are finally taking it seriously.

( 09/04/08 10:26AM ) — Anthony Clark

Mitchell It's certainly going to take cities, corporations and even individuals to get the wheels rolling before the federal government gets on board. I know there are community organizers all over the country taking responsibility for grass roots efforts to create awareness around these topics. And they're making a difference. I know they are here in Northwest Arkansas which is creating itself as a hub for ECOnomics.

( 09/04/08 11:03AM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Hi Anthony, I agree... Community organizers? Grass roots efforts? What's that? You mean like the Mayor of Wasilla Alaska with a big responsibility. LOL

( 09/05/08 02:52PM ) — Patricia Kennedy

Mitchell, what a brilliant idea! The wind really gets pretty brisk on higher levels of the tall buildings. And community orgainzers? Um? What do they do? Do they actually have responsibility for anything? But seriously, I can remember when someone with a townhouse somewhere in the Villiage made ConEd crazy with a solar system that put energy back in the system. That was back in the 1970's.

( 09/05/08 03:14PM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Hi Pat, Village residents were always ahead of their time. Non conformists. All over the suburbs neighbors are suing other neighbors to prevent them from putting solar panels on their homes because they don't conform to all the other homes on the block.

The town of Wayne NJ passed an ordinance to stop wind turbines because they ae ugly. They might not be pretty but nothing is uglier than oil rigs drilling.

( 09/06/08 12:18PM ) — Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR®

MITCH - I would think that in Manhattan that it would be much easier to use solar panels than wind turbines. They can't even keep the cranes on top of the buildings without disaster, so I can't imagine them adding wind turbines without causing some problems.

( 09/06/08 02:50PM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Adam, I agree solar is a better way to go. It would be strange seeing and perhaps dangerous having wind turbines on top of the empire state building. I think there is something to off shore turbines.

( 09/16/08 11:35PM ) — Ruthmarie Hicks

I think that's wonderful. NYC certainly needs as much energy as it can get. We have some of th highest costs in the country but the idea of the city generating much of its own power free from the clutches of Con Ed is terrific. Westchester needs to get going along the same lines.

( 09/17/08 05:40AM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Hi Ruthmarie, Con Ed has become outrageous. I like the idea that the State is allowing New Yorkers who generate their own solar power to sell what they don't use to other power customers. Citizen Con Eds.

( 09/19/08 07:57PM ) — Carole Cohen Realtor®, ePRO

It's a great idea. I have to admit, flat roofs make me nervous. But if they have to exist, putting wind power and solar panels and even gardens on them makes sense lol

It's been a wild week, nice to read some good stories.

( 09/20/08 08:48PM ) — Mitchell Hall - Manhattan Real Estate

Hi Carole, Most of our buildings have flat roofs. They usually have A/C units and older buildings have water tanks. The new green solar buildings have roof gardens.