Power Experts Warn Were In For A Dark Summer

With a hot summer looming on the horizon and not enough energy capacity to supply the City, some experts believe Mayor Giuliani will have the daunting task of choosing which region of Queens or Manhattan will have to do without power for an extended period of time. They say if a situation like this were to occur, Queens can expect much more than an eyesore along the Long Island City waterfront.
"What we are dealing with is somewhat similar to that of the Washington Heights brownout two summers ago," said the KeySpan engineer, who wished to remain anonymous. "However, the brownout will occur for a longer period of time if we cant generate enough power this summer since installing just 10 generators only puts us a hair above the needed capacity levels."
According to Power Authority officials, the 10 generators being installed around the City will provide us with just over 400 megawatts of power for this summer and the future. They said that the City requires at least 397 megawatts of power in order to survive a hot summer. In this case, if the two generators in Long Island City are not up and running before the summer reaches its peak temperature, the City will have less than 80 megawatts of generating capacity to support its power needs.
But members of environmental groups and politicians say that there is not a crisis for generating capacity this summer. Anthony Gigantiello, president of Queens environmental group C.H.O.K.E, said 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 said. "This, along with Con Edisons plan to invest in energy efficient and peak load production programs will help reduce peak demand for this summer."
Gigantiello said the NYPAs failure to abide by proper environmental guides and consult with the community has led his group to fight the construction. He also said the two generators will pose potential pollution problems to an area already called "Asthma Alley."
But according to the KeySpan engineer, these generators are the cleanest ever invented.
"The use of these generators will actually benefit the pollution problem in Long Island City," said the insider. "These new plants are taking the place of bigger plants, such as "Big Allis" in Long Island City, which was recently shut down by the City. They arent adding new power plants, rather, they are updating the current ones."
Once Judge Joseph Golia signs the official draft barring the NYPA from building on the Vernon Blvd. site permanently, the Power Authority plans on appealing his decision.
However, regardless of what happens to the generators in western Queens, state Judge Lawrence Knipel ruled that 10 generators must be built in the City as soon as possible.