Dan's Papers - July 27, 2007 - A Turbine At Shinnecock If The People Want It

"The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind." Bob Dylan may have known it four decades ago, but it seems that Southampton town may be one of the first towns to catch on. This week, officials sparked a dialogue about the possible adoption of a wind turbine at the Shinnecock inlet to contribute to Southampton's power. The energy created by the wind turbine would be used to power a town utility building. But more than that, it would be a conspicuous move towards a more earth-friendly approach in Southampton.

Harnessing wind power is nothing new. Just as the wind filled Odysseus's sails in the ancient times of Homer, it still powers sailboats today. And windmills, kites, and fans have been around for centuries if not millennia. So why the sudden shift in thought? Why, now, is the town of Southampton considering utilizing the power of the wind?

Well, the gap between the wind and fossil feul power is narrowing. Wind power costs between 8 and 10 cents per kilowatt hour, which is competitive with other sources of energy.

Southampton Town Supervisor Patrick Heaney, while enthusiastic about the potential project, is not jumping into anything too quickly. First and foremost, he wants support of the town. "Without the public support," he said, "this is not something we should pursue." However, after meeting with representatives from Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), Mr. Heaney did note that $30,000 has been allocated for the project in the coming year.

If the plan is carried through, a wind turbine would be constructed on the western side of the Shinnecock Canal, at the commercial fishing dock. The structure would be between 32 and 36 feet tall, and the design is still up for debate. While the traditional design is a three-bladed windmill-like structure, Mr. Heaney was interested in seeing designs for a wind turbine that imitated the DNA-strand of a double helix.

In that area, zoning regulations limit structures to be less than 32 feet tall, though there are exceptions to the rule. Since the structure would be partially concealed by the rigging of the commercial boats, it may be permitted. However, Mr. Heaney reiterated that if the public was against the proposition, it would not go forward.

Representatives from LIPA seemed enthusiastic about the project, as wind turbines are a major part of their current research and development. Mark Dougherty, LIPA's manager of distributive generation and renewable programs, expressed LIPA's willingness to build a wind turbine at the dock. While he did not divulge a specific plan, he did say that a timeline would be available "shortly".

With worldwide attention finally focusing on environmental issues like renewable energy sources, more and more businesses and organizations are turning to alternative forms of power. But if Southampton Town decides to go ahead with the construction of a wind turbine, it will be a progressive move towards a more ecologically aware place. With the natural splendor that makes this area what it is, it would be fitting for our approach to energy to be kind to the earth. The wind is a gift that keeps on giving, and if we harness it in the right ways, we will always have abundance. Perhaps if we had taken Mr. Dylan more literally 40 years ago, we wouldn't be embroiled in such conflict over oil and other non-renewable sources. After all, maybe the answer really was blowing in the wind.