Executive Speeches

Remarks of Eugene W. Zeltmann, president & chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority, at the Queens Clean-Air Announcement at the Poletti Power Project, Astoria, New York

July 15, 2003 

Thank you and good afternoon.

Last September, Governor Pataki came to the Poletti Power Project and made a historic commitment to the people of Northwest Queens.  Today, we take a major step toward fulfilling that commitment.

When he was here, the Governor announced a landmark agreement that would enable the Power Authority to build a clean new 500-megawatt power plant just across the way. Among its many significant provisions, the agreement called for NYPA to invest $2 million in energy-efficiency and clean-air projects in this community.  Now we’re reaching out to those who know best—the members of the community—to make sure this money is put to the best possible use.

The agreement reflected Governor Pataki’s firm belief that we can meet our ever-growing energy needs while protecting—and improving—the environment.  It would not have been possible without the support and very constructive involvement of Borough President Helen Marshall and environmental leaders like Ashok Gupta and Lisa Garcia.  We’re delighted that they’re here today and that they’ll be among our partners in the Queens Clean Air Project.

We’ve also worked successfully with the Northeast States Clean Air Foundation and Clean Air Communities (CAC) on a major truck-stop electrification project in the Bronx.  So, Ken, it’s great that your organizations will be coordinating the program here.  Glenn Goldstein—program manager for CAC has certainly played a big part in getting us where we are today.

As I’m sure you’ve all noticed, the new 500-megawatt power plant is taking shape and is on course for completion in 2005.

This plant—to be fueled by natural gas—will be the largest new power source in New York City since the Poletti project went into service more than 26 years ago.

The need for it is clear.  New York City faces a tight electric capacity margin again this summer and things will only get more critical if we don’t add clean new power plants.  The emphasis here is on “clean”—and the new plant fills that bill.

Thanks to its combined-cycle technology and sophisticated pollution controls, it will be one of the cleanest and most-efficient power plants in New York City’s history.  Its air-cooled condenser will avoid the need to take water from the East River.  It will be a model of how a power plant can operate in harmony with the environment.

But there’s much more to our agreement.

It provides for the Power Authority to shut down the existing Poletti project as soon as 2008 and no later than 2010.  Substituting the new plant for the old will significantly improve the quality of our air.

Already—under the agreement—we’ve cut back the use of oil at Poletti in favor of cleaner natural gas.  And—when the new plant comes on line—we’ll hold Poletti’s output to specified limits until the eventual shutdown.

NYPA has also pledged to invest an additional $50 million over five years—beyond what we’re already doing—in energy efficiency and clean energy projects throughout New York City.  We’re working with local officials and members of the environmental community on the details.

And, of course, we have the separate $2 million initiative here in Northwest Queens.

We’ll provide the money. But we hope that amount will grow as others in the public and private sectors see the merits of this exciting program and decide to join us.

The Power Authority has a long history of benefiting New York City’s environment through its energy-efficiency and clean-energy programs.  The new Queens Clean Air Project follows in that tradition.  But it’s special for us because it will directly benefit our own neighborhood—one we’ve called home for more than a quarter-century.

Thanks for being here—and please join us after this program for a look at how we’re moving ahead on construction of our clean new power plant.