Environmental Groups Vow To Fight Power Plants To Bitter End

C.H.O.K.E. President Anthony Gigantiello urged protesters to continue the fight against the plants, saying that residents should not believe what the NYPA says about the similarities between the California power crisis and the one New York expects to suffer this summer. "Although electric usage is steadily growing in New York City, existing power plants in the tri-state area have also been expanded and new units added," Gigantiello told The Queens Courier. "This, along with Con Edisons plans to invest in energy efficient and peak load production programs will help reduce peak demand for this summer."Gigantiello said NYPAs failure to abide by proper environmental guides and consult with the community has led his group to fight the construction. "The public and affected local communities can only support new power plants if they are sited with proper environmental review and community involvement," he said. "No one has listened to the people and every environmental group has been denied an adequate explanation for why the NYPA needs to build on this site."
One protester pointed at NYPA representative Luis Rodriguez and shouted, "You people are so arrogant to be building these sites when the courts told you not to. How can you sleep at night?" Rodriguez responded by saying, "We have every right to build. All permits are currently in place and we are striving to meet the power needs of New Yorkers."
Queens business and community leaders had envisioned the construction of a glorious waterfront along Long Island Citys shores before the power authority announced it was locating a plant in the area. Plans were formulated for 6,000 homes, two million square feet of office space and 21 acres of waterfront. Also, for a community well known for its high asthma rates, residents have said the new plants will further pollute an area in need of a renaissance.
"This is a clear act of hegemony," said Drew DiCamillo, a Long Island City resident who suffers from asthma. "We represent the working class so they think they can get away with this. We are going to fight this until the very end."