Full speech from Congressman Steve Israel. (NNL Video by Liz Zwicker)

On Friday morning, Hofstra University College for Continuing Education and Certilman Balin Attorneys hosted Offshore Wind: Long Island’s Future Energy Source, a conference observing all aspects of this alternative energy source.

The event took place at the Hofstra University Club in David S. Mack Hall on the university’s north campus. The dining room was filled to listen to a variety of speakers and presentations introduced by Hofstra University’s own Lawrence C. Levy, including Long Island Power Authority CEO Kevin Law and Congressman Steve Israel.

Kevin Law spoke first of the energy situation on Long Island, painting a picture of ever-increasing energy demands. Long Island Power Authority has 1.1 million customers, and the average LIPA customer owns four television sets. Currently, only 2,400 of those customers participate in solar energy programs.

New York’s 45 by 15 program, which establishes the hope that New York will be obtaining 45 percent of its energy from renewable sources and improved energy efficiency by 2015, turns the pressure up for LIPA to invest in alternative energy.

LIPA, has joined with Con Edison, New York Power Authority, the City of New York, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, The Port Authority, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority to form the Long Island – New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative, hoping to build a wind farm 13-17 miles offshore. “We know the technology exists and does work,” Law explained, adding that there are 33 offshore wind farms in Europe, with 16 more currently under construction. The U.S. has projects in Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island that are in their infancy, but none have passed early developmental stages.

Presentations followed Law’s speech. Robert Schubert, key account executive of Siemens Energy, Inc. said that the northeastern coastline has been called “the Saudi Arabia of offshore wind,” a region with great potential for wind energy. Bob discussed the technology and manpower involved in the construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbines manufactured by his company.

Mike Bateman, vice president of technology development at HFG Engineering discussed offshore construction vessels in his presentation. Christopher G. Rein, senior vice president of ESS Group, Inc., spoke of the many environmental considerations and challenges involved in offshore wind projects. Kevin Walsh and Jim Rigano of Certilman Balin Attorneys gave a presentation on governmental authorizations and permits, including the discussion of legal requirements and timelines.

Congressman Steve Israel closed the conference, speaking about what it will take to get offshore wind in motion. “We have not made the right investments in renewable energy,” Israel said, explaining that bringing in risk-takers who are willing to make investments in renewable energy sources like offshore wind will help to stimulate the U.S.’s economy.

Israel said that 40 percent of all jobs lost in the recession aren’t coming back, but that this is an opportunity to create new jobs, as our predecessors often have in tough economic times. Renewable energy jobs can help rebuild our economy.

Israel is also looking to create government initiatives for individuals, called Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, bonds. He explained, “We will allow every American who wants to go to their local government, their state governments, and have their local and state governments finance their retrofits.” This will help ordinary citizens to install things like energy-efficient windows in their homes for less and increase green initiatives.

The presenters and speakers at the conference showed strong confidence and enthusiasm overall about Long Island’s offshore wind initiative. Despite challenges and setbacks, LIPA, in conjunction with these various contributors, hopes to be the first to construct the U.S.’s first offshore wind project.