"New York State has the ownership of the lake bed, so it can decide to whom it leases or whether it develops it itself."
Environmentalists like Bill Hudson, executive director of the Buffalo Audubon Society, are intrigued by the possibility of harnessing the lake's winds, but concerned that there have been few studies looking into the impacts.
"If we're passing legislation to give incentives and tax breaks to get wind energy developed, let's fund research to get these studies done simultaneously," he said.
In general, Hudson said, he is supportive of wind power because of the environmental destruction and degradation caused by burning coal and natural gas.
"I lived in West Virginia for a year," he said. "Sad as it is, having a few birds killed is nothing compared to blowing up a whole mountain top [to mine coal] and filling the river valley next to it."
Whether the turbines are on land or on water, opponents of commercial wind power, like Silver Lake's Mary Kay Barton, say it just doesn't make sense.
Large-scale wind power operations are "not scientifically sound, not environmentally sound and not economically viable," said Barton, a member of the Citizens Power Alliance, a group opposed to such installations.
Proponents acknowledge wind power isn't a "magic bullet."
"There is no sole solution to our energy problems," said Robert E. Knoer, chairman of the Wind Action Group in Buffalo.
But, he said, "We can't afford environmentally or economically to live in a carbon-based economy," and wind power will be a part of the mix to reduce that dependency on oil and natural gas.
e-mail: jbonfatti@buffnews.com
***
Lake Erie's offshore wind potential
*About 11 offshore wind farms currently undergoing review in U.S.
*Offshore wind farms already operating in Europe, more planned.
*Ice sheet presents special engineering issues for towers.
*More wind on the water, more expensive to put towers there.
*Formal analysis of Lake Erie wind development expected by year's end.
Originally published by NEWS STAFF REPORTER.
(c) 2008 Buffalo News. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Story Source: Buffalo News
