Fontana Generates A Great Idea
Councilman Richard Fontana is backing an exciting idea that would see water turbines incorporated into the future Peace Bridge design. The common council resolution was passed unanimously and the idea is now being passed along to the Public Bridge Authority, The Mayor of Buffalo, and the Mayor of Fort Erie. If implemented, the addition of the turbines could help in a number of different ways. "This could help the Peace Bridge to lower tolls," Fontana said. "Or the power could be used to lower the cost of operating businesses along Niagara Street (or further). Can you imagine a bridge that draws its own power? This could be a 'green' bridge that would produce low pollution energy."
I asked the councilman if there were any sort of exclusive rights that could be claimed by the electric generating companies/Power Commission in The Falls. "As far as I know The City of Buffalo owns sections of the Niagara River. I don't believe that there are any exclusive rights to the constantly flowing river. We're also looking into the water that flows through the tunnel that goes from the water intake to the water treatment plant."
*Rendering of 15-foot-tall water turbines in New York’s East River.
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Comment Options
Joshua
If this is done correctly, there would be enough enery from the water turbines to power the City of Buffalo. Buffalo, itself could be a green City.
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ecogeo
It's good to hear that someone is thinking about how to use our available, renewable resources. This really is a no brainer if there are no legal restrictions. It also seems that this system, if designed well and incorporated into the bridge, should be cheaper and easier to maintain than the East River turbines.
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galaxyjay
I'm quite excited about this. Does anyone know how the environmentalists feel? That's what usually hinders the progress, however, it does seem as it would effect the direct environment.
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bflorox
Talk about a bad omen, one of the "cables" in the bridge model has come undone.
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STEEL
I wonder where this idea came from...could it be that it was mentioned in a BRO story about a million years ago? Yes yes I believe that is the case.
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al-alo
im not sure why this is bridge dependent (can you say lipstick on a hog, but thats a differnt story).
why cant we put them online in the next few years, bridge or no bridge? why cant we use the power generated to subsidize power rates within the city, who cares about a toll for a trucker from Detroit?
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BodhiWind
I like it, I like it alot.
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Hoss
I'm almost certain the cables are designed to break periodically. This guarantees employment via bridge maintenance for generations to come.:)))
I friggin' love the idea of Buffalo as a whole being a green city. These turbine prospect/incorporation sounds exciting.
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lebowski
"This could be a 'green' bridge that would produce low pollution energy." Thats a completely ridiculous statement. Nonetheless, a good idea. Has any other communities taking advantage of this type of turbine, I wonder?
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queenseyes
They have been researching these turbines in NY's East River. Buffalo would be one of the first.
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NewBuffalo
Great Idea however the tolls will never be reduced and the PBA can't make a decision on the plans they have now. This will only DELAY the bridge ANOTHER DECADE.
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Spaulding97
Or we could gather up all the illegal immigrants and have them running on giant wheels to produce all the energy we need!
I keed, i keed
All joking aside, I like the idea. Way to think outside the box and not like a politician. Now make it happen!
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NBJOHN
Writing without researching here, but will the power be thrown into the power pool and sent down to NY Shitty errr City, like all of our other inexpensive power?
Great idea. I am a huge fan of brainstorming and finding new ideas... When will this bridge be built?
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RonR
I love the idea of "GREEN" for the city. This could be a huge selling point for people to move to Buffalo. Part of the reason Austin, TX and Portland, OR has had such strong growth is their "GREEN" approach. It attracts a whole new type of prospective resident.
Maybe once the Power Authority is audited and we find what everyone knows exists which is wasted funds, those funds could go to grants for homeowners and business that go green. I wonder if going "Green" could also unlock Federal and State funds for the city to grow? Even if these types of funds are available I am pretty sure Buffalo does not come close to qualifying....YET!
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d4rksabre
I can hear it now, it'll be the same complaints the environmentalists had about the windmills. "The fish will run into them!"
Hopefully we can just ignore the environmentalists and go forward with a great plan like this. Using water for power? Who'da thunk it?
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rb66
BULD THE DAMN BRIDGE ALREADY! Ahhhhhhhhh!
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sbrof
great idea, since we lost?... gave up?... sold?... our rights to the falls perhaps we can still tap as much energy from our natural systems. Wind, solar, water all are very possible and could be very productive for our region. Now it is time to move forward with these ideas because in 20 years these "ideas" will mean jobs.
Having the knowledge and the backyard to test and building these technologies could become a huge industry for our city. We have the mind power, the computing power, the high speed backbone, the natural resources all we need is to start the process and let people know about the potential here.
Liken it to a center of excellence in sustainable technology research.
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chris69
its just a deflection away from all those homes and businesses that are going to be demolished for the peace bridge plaza.
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georgethomasapfel
Actually STEEL you're partially correct in the idea coming a million years ago (well, actually it was a few hundred)-- look at the Hydraulic District, pipelines carried water to power the machinery of the mills and factories before electricity was discovered and adapted for electric motors. There were sawmills along the Scajaqueda harnessing the current of the creek to power their saws, this is a centuries-old idea. I'm also intrigued by the proposal to tap into the water intake tunnel, it was deisigned to take advantage of the natural river current so as to not reuqire as much pumping to get that water into the treatment plant. If there is a surplus of energy available (in other words, the flow would not be impeded by the turbines to require more pumping) this is anothe rsource of hydro-power.
I'm believe this power would be tied into the grid, otherwise the cost of creating a new distribution infrastructure would be a drawback. Use the exisiting grid, then let's have Buffalo control this power source (if we're using portions of the river the city 'owns') then surplus power could be sold to other utilities with Buffalo on the receiving end.
We are already the "Queen City of the Lakes" and can become the "Green City of the Lakes" - Newell could change his screen name to "Greenseyes"
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galaxyjay
chris - you make it seem like a negative :p
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sbrof
Green City of the Lakes... kinda like that...
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tonyarmani
its a good idea but if we do it we will have to build them without Albany's knowledge - then they'd tax the hell out of it, make us pay, and send it to NYC
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Bsalam
focus! just get the bridge done and stop the tangents.
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Pauldub
Gee Steel, this idea and post keeps on turning up like a bad penny!
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viking
*********** The bridge, the turbines are a great idea, talk to CXS about incorporating the turbines into a repair of what is already there. They donate the power we grant permission to construct and maintain. Along the way the truck problem gets solved, Front Park gets saved and everyone, who really counts is happy.
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magnum
These turbines need minimum of 25-30 ft of water. Most of the river is 25ft. or less. Only deep spot is by the sewage treatment plant(30-40 ft). So this idea is a no go in it's current state. I say Suny Buffalo, Calspan and other local companies get together and design a smaller turbine that works in shallower water and/or can be mounted onto bridge pilings. The international train bridge has, I believe, 4 pilings supporting the bridge. Now we've created a company that manufactures in Buffalo and exports to the world. Every bridge would be a customer.
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stoecdo
Imagine the Irony of taking the funds from the power authority to develop this idea of power independence.
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sbrof
ok this is realllllllllllly old but anyone have the link to the original article... I have been searching for a while with no luck.
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