Environment DEC
From the July 2007 issue
World's First Free-Flow Tidal-Power Turbines Activated in New York
The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project recently generated and delivered to local businesses the world's first kinetic hydropower. This is an emerging form of renewable energy derived from the natural flow of water, without the use of dams.
RITE is using the first free-flow tidal turbines in the world, providing more than 1,000 kilowatt hours per day of clean, emission-free electricity to Roosevelt Island. The turbines are operated by Verdant Power, Inc., a global integrator of kinetic or "free-flow" hydropower systems and a marine renewable-energy developer of dam-less hydropower sites.
Governor's Goals
Governor Eliot Spitzer has charted a course for the state to make renewable energy sources a centerpiece of its energy agenda
The Spitzer-Paterson administration seeks to reduce damage to the environment while also generating new economic growth in the area of renewable energy, especially upstate. Governor Spitzer has asked Lieutenant Governor Paterson to spearhead the effort to expand the state's production of renewable energy sources and conservation efforts. The goal is for more than 25 percent of the state's electricity generation to come from renewable energy sources by 2013.
Lieutenant Governor Paterson has recently convened a Renewable Energy Task Force which will work to attract clean energy industries to New York. The members of the new Task Force include representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Long Island Power Authority, the New York Power Authority, the Public Service Commission, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, as well as representatives from renewable energy and alternative fuel industries, environmental and agricultural communities, academia, local government, energy policy, environmental justice, and green building and industry development sectors.
The Plan
New York State's plan focuses on energy efficiency, conservation and investment in renewable energy sources as key to achieving economic and environmental goals. The plan calls for the following:
- Reducing electricity use by 15 percent from forecasted levels by the year 2015 through new energy-efficiency programs in industry and government
- Creating new appliance efficiency standards and setting more rigorous energy-building codes
- Investing millions for renewable energy projects throughout the state
- Enacting legislation that creates an expedited review process for new wind-power projects, re-powering projects that reduce emissions and other power plants that have very low levels of carbon dioxide emissions
