City Trying to Breathe Life Into Wind Energy

Solar energy has been gaining popularity at New York City co-ops and condos – it’s now possible to tap into the sun’s energy without installing solar panels – and it is clearly the city’s leading form of sustainable energy. But that doesn’t mean the potential of wind power is gone. 

The city council is considering a bill that seeks to standardize wind-turbine installation on rooftops, just one of several pieces of green legislation now before the chamber, Crain’s reports. Legislation sponsored by city council member Costa Constantinides, a Queens Democrat, seeks to standardize the application process for wind turbines so property owners would know exactly what to do and inspectors would use the same set of criteria to judge every project. Currently, anyone who wants a turbine must apply for a special permit from the Department of Buildings (DOB). 

"As anyone who's dealt with [the DOB] knows, even the most garden-variety projects can often ensnare you in endless strands of red tape," Constantinides said in a speech earlier this year. "When you add cutting-edge technology on top of that, you're only complicating it further." A complementary Constantinides bill would require officials to create a wind map showing where these devices would work best. 

Solar panels tend to be more cost-effective small-scale power generators, but not all rooftops are conducive to their installation, creating an opportunity for wind. Small wind turbines can generate modest amounts of power as well as make a statement about renewable energy, but they are nowhere near the top of the list in terms of potential to make the city greener. Reducing power consumption of buildings, which account for nearly three-quarters of the city's greenhouse-gas emissions, provides the biggest payoff. Large-scale wind farms can also move the needle; the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is working on a plan for turbines off the coast of Long Island.

A bill penned by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson would require that all city-owned buildings be powered by sustainable energy by 2050.