N.Y. Power Authority Conducts Equipment Tests for Commercial Operation of New Power Plant in Queens

Contact
Michael Saltzman
914-390-8181
michael.saltzman@nypa.gov

September 21, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUEENS—Equipment tests continue at a new power plant in Astoria in preparation for the New York Power Authority (NYPA) placing the facility in commercial operation by the end of the year.

The equipment tests, which began earlier this month on one of the 500-megawatt project’s two combustion turbines, are a standard practice for any new generating project before it is placed in service. NYPA is currently testing the second turbine, which will produce small amounts of electricity during the process, as it verifies the equipment is operating as designed.

The new power plant, which features advanced combined-cycle technology for greater fuel efficiency, burns clean natural gas, with low-sulfur oil as a backup fuel. The hot gases normally lost by older power plants during fuel combustion are captured to drive a steam turbine, and generate additional amounts of electricity.

This will also contribute to making the new plant, which is equipped with the latest emission controls, among the cleanest generating facilities in New York City.

The Power Authority built the new combined-cycle plant to help it continue to meet the electricity requirements of its large government customers in New York City, who save hundreds of millions of dollars a year in lower energy costs as NYPA customers. They include schools, hospitals, municipal buildings, and the subways and commuter trains.

The New York Power Authority is the largest nonfederal public power utility in the country. It also is a leader in energy efficiency and pioneering alternative-generating technologies like solar power and fuel cells.