NYC BUSINESSES USE OF WIND POWER ON THE RISE

The use of wind power by owners of commercial real estate in New York City is rising rapidly, but from a very low base, according to energy service companies, which supply the power to businesses.

Wind power is expected to be a critical component of President Obama’s plan to expand the production of renewal domestic energy, and there are signs that this is starting to happen in New York. ConEdison Solutions, one energy supplier, said its sales of wind power to commercial customers rose 25 percent in 2007 and again in 2008.

Still, only about 250 businesses buy some measure of wind power from ConEdison Solutions. This number represents slightly over 1 percent of its commercial and industrial customers; of these, some 200 get all of their power from wind farms.

Jorge J. Lopez, chief executive of ConEdison Solutions, said that these buyers were “green pioneers” and that in honor of Earth Day, a ceremony this week involving the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, would honor about a dozen customers.

ARTICLE CONTINUES HERE AT THE NEW YORK TIMES