By Adam Pincus
A state regulatory commission indicated Wednesday that it would approve the sale of a power plant in Astoria to a company jointly owned by New York and Chicago interests, a person familiar with the deal said.
The Public Service Commission said in a preliminary report from the meeting that it consented to the proposed transfer of ownership interests in Astoria Generating and the proposed issuance of corporate debt by the new owner.
The transfer referred to the $975 million sale of electrical generators owned by Reliant Energy Inc., of Houston, to US Power Generating Co. of New York and Madison Dearborn Capital Partners of Chicago, the person said.
That report is tentative and could not be confirmed until final action in the form of an order was published in 10 to 14 days, a commission spokeswoman said.
State Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said that after a series of meetings with the new owners, he believed they would install cleaner generators at the plant located at 21-01 20th Ave.
“We trust they will do the right thing,” he said. “And we will stay on top of them to make sure they do the right thing.”
