New Jersey port to be powered entirely by five wind turbines

A new port in New Jersey will be powered entirely by five wind turbines.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to power the Port Jersey-Port Authority Marine Terminal with five, 288-ft.-tall turbines that will be erected on a 70-acre site, according to a Jersey Journal report.

The new port will accommodate container ships too tall to pass under the Bayonne Bridge, which are expected to arrive upon the completion of a project to expand the Panama Canal in 2014.

The wind turbines are expected to generate a combined 7.5 megawatts of power, more than enough to power the port and enough energy to power 2,000 homes. Excess power will be returned to the grid, according to the report.

The location was chosen because it receives adequate wind without being too close to Bayonne and Jersey City residents.

The Port Authority plans to award contracts for the project in the fall, and is currently seeking feedback from industry players to plan the project.

The agency has a goal to reduce its 2006 level of greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com