Critics urge LIPA to scrap wind farm plan

With a report from LIPA about the financial feasibility of its off-shore wind-energy project due out in weeks, two state senators are calling on the authority to scuttle the costly plans immediately.

At the same time, one of the major backers of the wind farm, Gordian Raacke, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island, said the near $700-million price tag to construct the wind farm is too steep, and he recommended the authority “shop around” for a better price.

“When I heard about the $700-million price tag, I was shocked,” he said. “I said, ‘This is getting ridiculous. I’m all for renewable energy, but I’m not willing to pay an unreasonable amount of money for it.”
State Sens. Owen Johnson (R-West Babylon), chairman of the finance committee, and Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick), chairman of the consumer protection committee, have scheduled a news conference at Jones Beach today to urge LIPA to end the plan for 40 off-shore wind turbines off those waters because of the cost.

“It should be stopped immediately,” Johnson said. “It’s only a bill for ratepayers and ratepayers can’t afford it.”

Johnson accused LIPA of neglecting its mission to reduce electric rates “under the guise of a financial scam of protecting the environment.”

Newsday