Pickens Plan NYC

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Comment by Sonja on September 4, 2008 at 8:29am

I just read the last months discussion about putting a wind turbine sculpture in the park and I am curious if it's something your moving forward with, and if so, could I be of any help.

Comment by Jake on August 31, 2008 at 10:13pm

Hello, I think you have all come up with a brilliant idea. I am not sure if you are still talking about this, but for those of you researching the windmill idea for Central Park. I don't know if you want to concentrate on what the most common windmills look like, but if your focus is on calling it a sculpture, may I suggest considering a helix windmill? I find them to be more aesthetically pleasing than a regular turbine, and honestly I think they just look cool. Their design allows them to harness substantial power with less wind, they are completely silent, safe for birds, and they can be placed at much lower heights than a regular windmill. I think they are ideal for a place like Central Park. Not to mention they are cheaper than regular windmills, and personally I think they give you a lot more lighting options for during the night. The only problems are I am not yet sure on how to acquire them, and I don’t know how large they can make them, even though I think many smaller helixes would be just as impressive as a single large turbine. Here is the link for anyone that is interested,
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1112/
Just a suggestion,
-Jake

Comment by schleien on July 31, 2008 at 9:35pm

Hey Charles,

This sounds great. I would like to hear what his response is to you. Are you going to be around next week?

Best,
Eric

Comment by Charles K. Gonzales on July 23, 2008 at 10:37am

By the way, I wrote to Adrian Benepe, the Commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation about this idea. Looking forward to a response.

Best regards,

Charles
917-843-1394

Comment by Charles K. Gonzales on July 23, 2008 at 10:24am

Hi Carlton,

Actually, this would be a two to four month installation and the wind turbine, at least in simplest terms, would not be generating electricity for public consumption (more on this in a few paragraphs). This is an art installation akin to a public exhibition of a large Alexander Calder mobile. This wind turbine would be the largest type possible and would be an art installation that is funded by both private and institutional contributors, possibly in association with a major art institution.

This wind turbine would be on loan from a company and after the show it will go to its final location in the ocean or a wind farm, possibly in the Midwest.

I have been wondering what the theme for such an installation would be (here is the philosopher in me coming out. Prior to my time at major financial institutions I wrote a Postmodernist philosophy thesis at UC Berkeley comparing the artists Julian Schnabel (American) with Anselm Kiefer (German)):

Shall we ask ourselves some very basic questions to get to our theme? For the most part I will let the poet in you answer these questions yourself.

This wind turbine, let’s called it a sculpture, has meaning. What is it? What will this beautiful, elegant wind sculpture actually do once it is installed and generating power in the ocean or in its Midwest wind farm? What will it provide real people like you and me? What will its actual existence be like on a bright, hot, sunny afternoon or in a freezing cold winter storm? What will its character be like? Will those for whom it provides income for its maintenance prefer working on it for its particular characteristics or on the others nearby? Will they give it a name? Will this wind turbine have a particular, recognizable sound compared to the others?

During that freezing cold winter storm mentioned above this wind sculpture will provide very real warmth for our mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, grandmothers, and grandfathers, friends, and colleagues.

It will provide the young start-up with power to run their business; for the major corporation, it will enable it to manufacture, sell, and distribute its products domestically and internationally.

The accident victim and the newborn child will be monitored and comforted in their hospital by the power that this sculpture provides.

This wind sculpture will contribute to making our world a better, cleaner, healthier place.

It will rise high and majestically in Central Park’s North Meadow, The Great Lawn, or The Sheep’s Meadow. During the day people will go up to it and touch it, have their pictures taken in front of it. At night it will be fully illuminated like our other great landmarks such as The Empire State Building. If it is generating energy then it would be doing so only to illuminate itself at night (as such, the wind would not need to be significant). It would be paying for itself.

On its way to its working home it will stop over in New York City for some major exposure to the most diverse population in the world. Concerts will be thrown, high-school essays will be written, and television documentaries will be produced in honor of this living, giving work of art. This work of art will be on its way to providing the many benefits above and more. Herein is a possible theme: “On Its Way”

What are your ideas about a theme?

If any city in the country can do this it is definitely New York City. It is going to take leadership, focus, energy, cooperation, coordination, and lots of love. This is also what it is going to take to keep our energy expenditures home in the United States which is the essence of the Pickens Plan.

Again, thanks Carlton.

Thoughts?

Comment by michael hannibal on July 21, 2008 at 6:34pm

Eric - I am on board.

Comment by Kathy Lee Hart on July 21, 2008 at 6:26pm

Schleien & all others-
Have you been to EVENTS choosing: Call to Action: Official Pickens House Party, July 24th. I did an RSVP and said I would leave info here. It's a good idea - one you & others may want to promote

Comment by Carlton Kanner on July 18, 2008 at 12:11pm

Hi Charles,

In term of costs for a large 1-2 megawatt wind turbine, you looking at an installed cost of 2-3 million dollars (75%+ for turbine rest for installation). Could be slightly less could be slightly more. These turbines are hardly inexpensive. To be honest with you, putting somthing of the scale you have bellow in the middle of central part isnt really practicle. The zone laws would have to be a nightmare and I can't really imagine one of these turbines getting ideal wind with all the large buidlings blocking it.

A more practical goal would be a non-commercial scale wind turbine or a smaller commercial turbines.

Perhaps the Vestas V-27, which is what is installed in my home town of Cleveland, Ohio. V-27 is by no means small, it produces 225 kw. However, it must much more practical for installation in something like central park (although it is still pretty freaking huge!).
Here is the tech sheet on it
http://www.windturbinewarehouse.com/pdfs/vestas/Vestas_V_27_SAC_DSM_7_8_05.pdf
The cost new is a little less than $500K.
Refurbished you can get it for under $200K from here
http://www.solardyne.com/windgenerators.html

Here is the V27 in Cleveland to get an idea of scale
http://www.wind-works.org/photos/ClevelandScienceCenterOhio0041-72x300x200.jpg

Comment by Charles K. Gonzales on July 17, 2008 at 9:39pm

How much would it cost to get one of these gentle giants into Central Park as a beautiful work of art depicting our future planet?

Comment by schleien on July 17, 2008 at 3:30pm

Hey Dylan, thanks so much for being willing to help out, that's so great. I'll give you a call next week. My number is 914 275 5696 if you wanna run anything by me as well.

Thanks again for being so willing to help!

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