1 Tilting at Windmills? Renewable power in New York City Stephen A. Hammer, PhD Director, Urban Energy Program

2 Landfill Gas Opportunities Proven, cost effective technology MW power generation potential in Brooklyn & Bronx Fresh Kills = 50 MW equivalent but natural gas already used on Staten IslandObstacles The clock is ticking…

3 Tidal power Opportunities MW potential in NYC based on current technology Predictable power sourceObstacles Unproven technology Permitting process delays due to concern over marine impacts May inhibit navigation & recreation

4 Source: Original research based on data provided by NOAA 2006, Nobeltec Software 2006, Reed's Nautical Almanac 2000, Environmental Protection Agency - Region Turbines 1.7 MW 36 Turbines.67 MW 84 Turbines 1.42 MW 27 Turbines.21 MW

5 Wind power Opportunities Local wind conditions = good to very good Local wind conditions = good to very good Cost profile = excellent due to state & federal government support Cost profile = excellent due to state & federal government supportObstacles Urban wind = young industry Urban wind = young industry Crowded city limits big wind potential Crowded city limits big wind potential Local permitting process untried Local permitting process untried Visual or wildlife impact? Visual or wildlife impact? Official seal of the City of New York pays homage to the wind systems installed by the NYC’s early Dutch settlers

6 Urban Wind

7 Unstable urban wind patterns affect efficiency and site specific viability Source: Santimouris (ed) Energy and Climate in the Urban Built Environment, 2001

8 Resource Potential mph mph mph mph mph Potential large turbine site Potential small turbine site NYC Wind Speed and Site Potential Same level as wind speed at Atlantic City wind farm

9 Solar power Opportunities Huge potential Matches peak demand New market models (third-party ownership)Obstacles Current cost level Interconnection and other permitting rules can significantly slow or harm the financial viability of projects

10 Solar power Potential PV deployment (MW) around NYC

11 PLANYC vs. current deployment PLANYC: 600 MW target More/better methane recovery (landfills, sewage treatment) More/better methane recovery (landfills, sewage treatment) Biomass combustion? Biomass combustion? AD at Hunts Point Wind not mentioned Wind not mentioned Solar Solar Innovative financing for government projects Tax breaks for large commercial and residential projects Tidal power profiled, but no policy agenda Tidal power profiled, but no policy agenda Current situation: ~3.0 MW citywide (vs. 11,400 peak demand) Sizable green power purchase, but all systems far outside of NYC Landfill gas = vented or diverted to local gas system Other biogas = 1.6 MW Wind = zero Solar = ~1.2 MW Tidal = 0.12 MW

12 Impediments to deployment? Interconnection barriers Immense but not insoluble Immense but not insoluble Is Con Edison excessively cautious? Or is it unfair to ask them to rethink their fundamental (highly reliable) system design to accommodate a few customers? Is Con Edison excessively cautious? Or is it unfair to ask them to rethink their fundamental (highly reliable) system design to accommodate a few customers? Microgrids a potential alternative? Microgrids a potential alternative? Would rate decoupling help solve problem? Would rate decoupling help solve problem? Cost structure Least-cost preference Least-cost preference Alternative technologies heavily subsidy-dependent, thus subject to government whims Alternative technologies heavily subsidy-dependent, thus subject to government whims  NY state incentives not as generous as NJ Lack of consumer awareness Resource availability Resource availability Technology Technology Financing opportunities Financing opportunities Industry perspective on urban opportunities “They call them wind ‘farms’ for a reason…” “They call them wind ‘farms’ for a reason…”

13 Steve Hammer

14 LondonNYCShanghaiBerlin Population 8 million 8.2 million 18 million 3.5 million Peak power demand ~9,000 MW ~11,400 MW 18-21,000 MW ~2,800 MW In-city central station power gen. capacity ~2,200 MW ~10,305 MW ~12,000 MW 2,800 MW CHP systems (<25 MW) 175+ MW 206 MWNegligible??? Solar thermal ~1,200 m 2 (~300 systems) Negligible (<20 systems) 100,000 m 2 by end of ,500 m 2 (4300 systems) Solar PV ~3.0 MW by end of 2007 ~1.2 MW 0.6 MW by end of MW Wind 3.6 MW none 24.4 MW (46.9 MW by end of 2007) Prohibited by law Landfill gas 20 MW 730 million cu. ft. of gas cleaned and fed to local gas system/year (= to approx ~50 MW) 240 kW 5 MW Biogas/bio-combust? 35.3 MW biogas 1.6 MW biogasNegligible 20 MW (wood) Other WTE 61 MW NYC does not receive any energy generated from the combustion of NYC waste at Newark and Hempstead WTENone Geothermal??<10 systems?? 1400 systems