Newsday reports that Winergy Power has begun submitting applications to build a 600-megawatt wind farm, consisting of 167 turbines, off the coast of Jones Beach.

This project closely resembles a 40-wind turbine LIPA project -- also to be located off of Jones Beach -- that was rejected because of ballooning costs.

However, this new plan will be markedly different. The planned wind turbines will sit roughly 15-18 miles off the coast, much farther than LIPA's proposal, and it will also be fully funded by private outside investment firms, removing large issues of contention.

Opponents of the rejected LIPA wind project expressed some disdain over the new proposal but they seemed to be more open-minded.

Walter Arnold, director of Save Jones Beach , who was stongly opposed to LIPA's project said they were "guarded" regarding Winergy's new plans. "We will look at it very, very closely," he said.

The company hopes to begin installation in 2012.