OBPA working on two wind turbine cargo projects

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority officials hope wind turbine cargo projects will be big business for the port in 2010.

OBPA officials said the authority has been courting two wind turbine companies after attending the Windpower 2009 event that was sponsored by the American Wind Energy Association last month.

"We've reached out and provided pricing for one lead, and we look to provide pricing for a second lead during the third quarter this year," said John A. Rishe, commercial and industrial development director. "At this point in time, there are a number of different projects in the area, and we're doing our best to sell our facility."

Mr. Rishe said the authority is analyzing the proposals to provide estimates for storing, loading and reloading the parts.

The work involves speculating on equipment and the number of laborers that will be needed, Mr. Rishe said.

The authority last year handled parts for 86 wind turbines that later were constructed on Wolfe Island, Ontario. The authority unloaded, stored and reloaded the parts for Canadian Renewable Energy Corp., an experience that has made the authority more attractive to business in the area, officials said.

"The authority is in close proximity to the projects and the fact that we successfully implemented a large project last year and have that experience is very beneficial," Mr. Rishe said. "We remain hopeful that we'll be able to secure another wind turbine project in, probably, 2010."

Although OBPA Executive Director Wade A. Davis refused to either confirm or deny the number of companies the authority is in talks with, he said speculation that the wind turbine industry is in decline is not accurate.

"The rest of the economy, the bottom has kind of fallen out on it, but the wind turbine business has been delayed," he said. "We're seeing projects set back a year or two years, but not canceled. And that's the difference we're seeing with our other clients."