Wind Power Symposium At Ocean County College

For the past few years, we have heard about the various technologies available to better the environment. Almost over night, the term "going green" has spread like wildfire throughout the world. Recently, hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries turned out the lights for Earth Hour and saved plenty of power which reduced carbon dioxide output. Here at the Jersey Shore, there has long been debate about the viability of wind power and whether or not wind turbines along the coast would hurt tourism. Experts don't believe so.

Just a day after the economic recovery summit at Ocean County College, I returned to the Toms River campus for a wind energy symposium. Attendees of the second annual summit heard from experts on the subject of wind power and why its a good renewable resource. The Garden State is making tremendous strides when it comes to green technologies. Various organizations and utilities gathered in conference room's A and B where a wide variety of issues was discussed including how the technology can advance, how you can get more information and all the pros and cons. The turnout was light and very few members of the public showed up.

The symposium comes a day after Governor Jon Corzine attended a meeting sponsored by the United States Department of the Interior on off-shore energy plans. President Barack Obama has a lot of strategies in the works and the session held in Atlantic City brought Governor Jon Corzine face to face with U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Topics included oil and gas drilling, the need for wind turbines along the shore and ways to reduce the carbon foot print. The meeting at O-C-C took the concept and brought it to a local level.

Scott Hunter is with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' Office of Clean Energy. He spoke during the forum and told me the importance of wind power. He explained wind energy is valuable but a little more expensive to launch at first. He says "it couldn't pay for itself solely in the electricity savings so we need to give it a little more extra subsidy and the federal government provides that through tax credits." Hunter adds the benefits to the environment and the savings to the pocketbook and wallet will outweigh the initial expenses.

Hunter says some of the possibilities for going green are very exciting to discuss. He says "solar, wind and bio-mass have also been recognized by the state of New Jersey as being key technologies." He adds "there is no silver bullet when it comes to renewable energy. A whole portfolio of technologies will be needed to be put onto the table."

According to data provided in a brochure given out at the event, windmills off the east coast could generate enough electricity to replace most, if not all, the coal-fired power plants in the country. The location is also important. Hunter says where you decide to put the turbines can make or break the investment and "Obstructions really cause havoc with the wind resource. All the turbulence would reduce the productivity of the wind so you really need to find an un-obstructed area in the direction of the prevailing winds."

For more information, you can check out http://www.njcleanenergy.com

by Jason Allentoff