Topography makes wind power nearly absent here

In the drive for renewable energy, Connecticut is giving up on large-scale wind power, surrendering to poor topography and the limited reach of a shoreline that stops short of the Atlantic Ocean.

Connecticut set goals 10 years ago to increase renewable energy in its portfolio of power sources. An annual plan recently submitted to state regulators seeks significant increases in megawatts generated by landfill gas, hydro power, biomass, fuel cells and solar energy by 2030.

Wind power and offshore wind, however, are not forecast to generate any power.

The report said the state's potential to tap into renewable resources is more limited than elsewhere in New England, "due principally to the relatively poor wind resource in Connecticut."

Wind speeds necessary to power turbines are poor in Connecticut because the state has no mountains to produce so-called "wind corridors" or access to the Atlantic Ocean, which powers stiff winds, said Bob Chew, president of the wind division of Alteris Renewables in Wilton.

"You're not seeing a lot of companies advertising wind turbines in Connecticut," he said.

On Friday, the nation's first offshore wind farm, planned for waters off Cape Cod, announced a deal with a utility to purchase power. Cape Wind, a privately held developer, was approved by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who stepped in to bring resolution to a project that was in its ninth year of federal review.

Salazar touted Cape Wind as the start of a new clean energy industry in the U.S., which lags behind Europe in offshore wind development. Critics say Cape Wind threatens wildlife and would destroy historic vistas and cultural sites in Nantucket Sound for the benefit of a private developer.

In New England, installed and planned wind projects would generate about 2,600 megawatts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, or enough to power more than 2.5 million homes.

Jim Shuckerow, director of wholesale power contracts at Connecticut Light & Power, the state's largest utility, said wind power generated on land in New England is primarily in Maine, northern New Hampshire, and to a lesser extent in western Massachusetts. Wind power also can be generated off the Atlantic coast in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine, he said.

The state's Clean Energy Fund, which is financed with $27 million a year from utility ratepayers, invests in solar energy, fuel cell technology, biomass and a few wind projects, including a one-year demonstration to see whether small-scale projects can work in Connecticut.

Philip Dukes, a spokesman for the Department of Public Utility Control, said investments in other renewable energy in Connecticut have better returns than wind power.

"We're 50 out of 50 states for the amount of wind we have as a natural resource," Dukes said.

Adding to the cost of generating renewable energy is the need to expand transmission to bring power to New England's grid.

An economic study last year by regional grid ISO-New England said it would cost about $10 billion for new transmission to add about 8,500 megawatts of low-carbon power -- enough electricity for 8.5 million homes -- from offshore and land-based wind power in New England.

"I don't think anyone is against renewables, but the biggest concern with them is they're still very expensive," said Kevin Hennessy, a member of the energy advisory board. "From the discussion, it sounds good, but is it achievable and what are the costs?"

In at least one town, local zoning has been an issue blocking wind power.

In Stonington, residents objected to a proposed wind turbine at a school, calling the giant blades ugly and a threat to property values, said William R. Haase, the town's director of planning. Local officials killed the plan.

"These things make noise, they could fall on adjoining properties in a wind storm or could fly to pieces if there's a mechanical error," he said. "They could kill birds and bats. But most of all, they're very unsightly."

Chew, of Alteris Renewables, said difficulty in obtaining permits adds to the roadblocks to wind power in Connecticut. In contrast, Vermont's topography and relative ease to obtain permits make wind projects possible, he said.

Phoenix Press, a family-owned commercial printer of brochures, catalogs, corporate annual reports and other materials in New Haven, is the sole commercial project financed so far by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Taking advantage of wind at New Haven Harbor, a turbine installed in March is on track to supply 165,000 kilowatts a year, furnishing one-third of the plant's power and providing power to the grid when the company is not operating, said Brian Driscoll, the company's president.

"It reduces the carbon footprint. Those are the buzzwords these days and I believe in that," he said.

More than half the $500,000 installation cost was financed by the Clean Energy Fund, Driscoll said.

Emily Smith, spokeswoman for the fund, said large-scale turbines don't work in the state, but small projects will make wind power available in Connecticut.

"We do see it coming along," she said.