New York Power Authority meeting in Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association

Representatives of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) met with the Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association this past Thursday in Albany. This was one of several public meetings NYPA is using to promote the planned Empire State Plaza Microgrid Project. The NYPA representatives touted that the gas-powered CHP microgrid would do several things, including:
Reduce energy costs
Create more than 200 local construction jobs
Reduce air and greenhouse emissions—to the tune of 25,600 tons
The NYPA presentation also
Dismissed use of solar, solar thermal, geo thermal, wind as impractical.
Stated that the plant would operate all the time, but would be able to isolate from Grid in the event of a power outage.
Stated that Existing boilers would still operate 30% of the time

Representatives of the community were very vocal in expressing their doubts, and it’s never been more clear that Environmental Justice is a pivotal issue in this project.