NY to replace aging Poletti power plant in 2008
Date: 09-Sep-02
Country: USA
"By building new, cleaner sources of electricity and retiring older power plants, New York State will continue to improve the quality of our air and water resources," Pataki said in a statement.
According to the agreement struck between the Power Authority, environmental groups and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, NYPA will close the existing facility on Feb. 1, 2008, after a proposed 500 MW unit begins operating.
Before the new unit is built, NYPA has agreed to cut emissions at the existing facility beginning in January 2003 and to increase investments in efficiency and clean energy projects by more than $50 million over five years.
To reduce emissions, the Power Authority will use less fuel oil to generate electricity, while increasing its consumption of cleaner-burning natural gas. Poletti can burn either fuel oil or natural gas to generate electricity.
Moreover, after the new plant is operating, the Power Authority agreed to run the existing facility at no more than 35 percent of the plant's capacity.
One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 1,000 homes.
CLEANING UP POLETTI
The new plant's combined-cycle technology would make it much cleaner and more efficient than older New York City power plants. Natural gas would power two turbine-generators, and hot gases resulting from that process would create steam to spin another turbine-generator, providing extra electricity.
The plant would also use an air-cooled condenser to avoid taking water from the East River.
Local politicians have long complained that Poletti was among the city's dirtiest plants, especially during the winter, when NYPA generally burns oil as the price of natural gas rises during the home heating season.
Environmental groups supporting the new plant included: the Natural Resources Defense Council, the New York Public Interest Research Group and the Coalition Helping Organize a Kleaner Environment.
These groups have fought construction of other power plants in the city, including the installation of 10 small gas turbines by NYPA throughout the city last summer.
Because New York City is limited in the amount of power it can import from the rest of the state, the existing station cannot be shut unless the state's grid operator determines the city's generating capacity remains over 80 percent of the projected peak demand.
The Power Authority purchased the Poletti project, then known as Astoria 6, from the power distribution unit of Consolidated Edison Inc. in 1974 when the plant was under construction. It began operating in 1977.
