Good Luck, Long Island, With the LIPA Offshore Project!

In this post, Huge Offshore Wind Turbines for Long Island?(MSNBC - 4/27/05), we learn that the Long Island Power Authority has filed its application for offshore wind the the Corps of Engineers and simultaneously luanched a public relations campaign to get support for the offshore wind turbines.

Since my renewable background comes by way of the frequently contentious field of hydroelectric licensing, I've long realized that the renewable name is not enough to combat NIMBY sentiments and environmental opposition. As recently as a few years ago, many newer renewable developers failed to realize this, believing instead that providing green energy would be sufficient to make their projects acceptable. But now most renewable developers - like any others - recognize the need to get public support behind projects, to be up front about impacts and willing to mitigate if necessary. Unfortunately, these steps can be time consuming and costly - and can pose an impediment to newer and less well-financed renewable projects.