In order to reduce New York City's dependence on natural gas, Mayor Bloomberg is proposing an offshore wind farm and skyscraper-mounted turbines.
"[New York Mayor Michael] Bloomberg outlined plans that could result in placing large wind turbines atop skyscrapers and bridges, augmented by a wind farm in the middle of the ocean, several miles off the Manhattan coast. Such a move would dramatically alter the city's iconic skyline, prompting several media outlets to lampoon the idea, grafting images of windmills onto the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building.
Josh Magee, research director at Emerging Energy Research in Cambridge, Mass., said some of these proposals, like the offshore farms, are more viable than others, because of the city's coastal positioning and the prevailing wind currents. Although this power can be expensive, it would provide the city with a natural hedge against volatile price swings in the natural-gas market, on which New York relies heavily for its power needs.
The notion of affixing windmills on the top of skyscrapers, however, appears to be far-fetched, given the turbulence and wind shear they would face at this altitude."
Read the full story: New York mayor tilts at windmills
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