Green Jersey

Coming soon to NYC skyline, shores: Windmills?

Mayor Bloomberg seeks to put wind turbines on buildings and bridges and in the water in New York, part of push toward renewable energy, according to several news reports.

Private companies are being asked to give clean-power generation ideas for the city to consider, including study how windmills can be used.

Bloomberg said yesterday that he wants to wean New York off the nation’s power grid, and generate perhaps 10 percent of the city’s electricity needs over the next 10 years with offshore wind power — he may be eyeing the coast off Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island for that.

He is also considering using geothermal and rooftop solar energy.

Soon, he will push private building owners to conserve electricity, giving energy users “more information” about conservation and requiring retrofits of some buildings, according to Reuters. He said the city would ultimately save money, and even make money, with more efficient buildings and vehicles.

All of this is part of the mayor’s plan to give New York the cleanest air of any large city in America. He wants to reduce city greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030.

He has less than 18 months left in office. Can he do it?