So how much potential wind energy in New York are we talking about? And where is it?
An excellent source to turn to for real data on real wind projects is NYISO, whose mission is to operate the state’s bulk electricity grid and administer the state’s wholesale market for electricity.
NYISO reports data on those projects that are in the “queue” — projects that have applied to connect to New York’s electric grid.
As of April 22, 2008, 72 such wind projects were in the queue, ranging from Schenectady International’s 9.3 megawatt facility in Rotterdam to Winergy Power’s 601 megawatt New York City project, scheduled to be online in 2015.
The state’s grid is divided into several market zones (maps of which may be found at NYISO’s website). NYISO information shows that Zone A in the western part of the state, has the most (twenty) queued wind projects. Zones C (Central) and E (Mohawk Valley) are next with eighteen each, although Zone E projects are roughly 30% larger (by generation) than Zone C projects on average. Summary data are found below.
| Market Zone & Counties |
Projects |
MW (summer) |
MW Project Average |
| A (West) Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming |
20 |
2251 |
113 |
|
|
|
|
|
| C (Central) Bradford, PA; Cayuga; Cortland; Ontario; Steuben; Tioga – Schuyler; Tioga, PA; Wyoming; Yates |
18 |
1872 |
104 |
|
|
|
|
|
| D (North) Clinton, Franklin-Clinton, Ontario |
12 |
916 |
76 |
|
|
|
|
|
| E (Mohawk Valley) Delaware, Franklin, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Otsego |
18 |
2337 |
130 |
|
|
|
|
|
| F (Capital) Rotterdam, Schoharie |
2 |
79 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J (N.Y.C.) New York |
1 |
601 |
601 |
|
|
|
|
|
| K (Long Island) Suffolk |
1 |
299 |
299 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Totals |
72 |
8355 |
116 |
