SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) - If New York state hopes to reach a goal of getting half of its electricity from renewable resources by the year 2030, wind energy will have to be part of the formula. That was the focus of a wind summit held in Syracuse this week, and boosters of wind power are optimistic it will happen.
Right now energy from wind turbines provides under three percent of the state’s energy portfolio. Alicia Barton, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), expects that number to grow because of a number of projects in the pipeline.
"NYSERDA has already issued additional contracts for wind projects in several regions across the state, including the Southern Tier and western New York. And we have a solicitation open now for offshore wind energy projects to be developed to serve the New York market as well."
Barton also notes the technology of wind turbines has been advancing, so each turbine generates more energy. Barton spoke at a wind summit in Syracuse this week, trying to get the word out about the jobs that can come from wind energy. 151,000 New Yorkers working in the clean energy sector right now.
"It’s something that New Yorkers should be paying attention to, because it is already starting to be a significant part of our economy and poised for really rapid growth in the years ahead,” she said.