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Potential Seen in Water-Wind Initiative

by David Bertola

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, New York Power Authority hosted a business-to-business conference. Called Get Listed!, it was designed to support and grow the state’s clean energy economy through development of the wind power industry.

The conference, held at the University at Buffalo’s Center for Tomorrow, was attended by more than 120, many from area businesses looking to learn how to apply what they do to manufacturing or other areas to create an off-shore wind project.

In December, NYPA issued a request for proposals for what could be the nation’s first fresh water-wind project, Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project, to help increase use of renewable energy and spur economic development.

“By attending Get Listed!, businesses will become aware of the many and varied types of industries needed by the wind power industry, especially the Power Authority’s Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project,” said Richard Kessel, president and chief executive officer of NYPA.

Kessel added the offshore project has “great economic development potential, with thousands of jobs to be created alone.”

He said the offshore project differs from those already existing throughout New York, because it has additional components to be manufactured, including concrete foundations, offshore substations and hydraulics.

Parts like these, he said, which could be made in the region, “could make Western New York a leading center for green jobs.”

Christina Orsi, regional director, Western New York region for Empire State Development, said her organization is working with Buffalo Niagara Enterprise to help area companies become part of the wind power supply chain, and be able to build turbines in Western New York, and leverage the region’s manufacturing base.

“Some companies can make changes to their equipment,” Orsi said, referring to those that may have been making parts for the automobile industry and retrofit machines to make wind turbine parts.

Orsi added training opportunities will be made available to help with such transitions.

A direct mail piece is scheduled for June, where an estimated 800 businesses would be targeted to show them how such conversions could be made and potentially expand their capacities.

Once a local supply chain is in place to manufacture wind turbine parts, Kessel said Western New York could be positioned to become a leader in a green economy.

“We already have regional assets already in place,” said Buffalo Niagara Enterprise President/CEO Thomas Kucharski. He referred to a study the BNE commissioned and recently completed that indicated the green economy offers the region job-growth-opportunities as demand for renewable energy grows.

The findings were presented Jan. 12 at a forum titled “Economic Development Tools for a New Economy.”

The NYPA RFP to develop the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project calls for between 120 and up to a total of 500 megawatts to be located in the New York State waters of Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario. Proposals in response to the RFP are due June 1, 2010.

Kessel is hopeful to see proposals with provisions to use area businesses as places to manufacture components, and said the Power Authority would give more consideration to those involving New York businesses, especially from those near the Great Lakes.