Aug 20, 2008 5:15 am US/Pacific
NYC Mayor Considers 'Windy City' Energy Plan
Initiative Could Drastically Change Skyline
Windmills On City Bridges & Skyscrapers; Turbines On Rivers' Shores; Solar Panels On Buildings
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Mayor Bloomberg's proposal would place windmills on top of the Brooklyn Bridge. (seen here)
AP
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Wind turbines in Dronten, Netherland.
AP
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Tourists visit the Statue of Liberty at sunset.
AP
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing a "green" plan that has the potential to drastically change the New York City skyline and shores. It's part of his effort to make New York the most energy efficient city in the nation.
The mayor's "windmill power plan" is the boldest environmental proposal yet from the billionaire independent, who has been trying to make energy efficiency a legacy of his administration.
Speaking at a major conference on alternative energy Tuesday night in Las Vegas, Bloomberg proposed putting windmills on top of city bridges, and skyscrapers, and turbines in the Hudson and East Rivers.
In terms of offshore locations, aides to the mayor told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York the city is looking at the generally windy coastlines for the turbines, which could provide 10 percent of the city's electricity in just 10 years.
The plan also includes the use of solar panels, possibly on the roofs of public and private buildings.
"When it comes to producing clean power, we're determined to make New York the number one city in the nation," said Bloomberg.
To show how serious he is, the mayor had lunch with T. Boone Pickens - the oil baron trying to build the world's largest wind farm in Texas - to talk about possibilities for such technology in New York City. Bloomberg gave companies until September 19 to submit innovative proposals to make the city "greener" by 2030.
"It would be a thing of beauty if when "Lady Liberty" looks out on the horizon, she not only welcomes new immigrants to our shores but lights their way with a torch powered by an ocean wind farm," the mayor said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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