AAEA New York Helps With Power Plant License Renewal

AAEA presented a statement at a public hearing before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on July 15, 2008 in Scriba, New York that was helpful in getting approval in July of the license renewal for the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit and Water Quality Certification (WQC). The meeting was an opportunity for members of the public to state their views on the station’s renewed SPDES permit and WQC. FitzPatrick expects its 20-year license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) soon, extending the station’s current 40-year license to 2034. AAEA is proud to have played a small part in the license renewals for this facility that will help in reducing global warming.

Concurrently, the New York Department of State Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) issued its consistency determination for the renewed NRC license. The WQC and CZMA determination reflect New York State’s acknowledgement of the important role of the FitzPatrick plant to the New York power supply and the absence of adverse aquatic impacts associated with its operations. AAEA President Norris McDonald is pictured above at the plant.

AAEA Statement (Video)

Full Written Statement

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Wants Windmills All Over NY

Bronx Community College Sustainable Energy Courses

How to Sell Solar Systems in New York and New Jersey:

Making the financial case to your customers (3 hrs.) For Solar Professionals ONLY This seminar will cover the basics of understanding the typical costs and incentives of solar PV projects; everything from evaluating the size of the system needed and calculating the potential energy savings to determining financial options and rebates. The class will also build a financial model spread sheet.

Bronx Community College October 24, 2008 Instructor: Rob Ashmore is the President and Owner of AeonSolar, a New York and New Jersey based solar sales and installation company and has worked in several markets over the past 7 years. He is NABCEP certified and has been project manager on hundreds of solar projects.

Photovoltaic Installation and Math/Electricity Basics

The Center for Sustainable Energy is pleased to offer the following course as part of the CUNY Photovoltaic (PV) Training Program, funded by NYSERDA. Completion of the course will allow the student to recognize and identify all components of the stand alone and net metered, grid inter-tied PV system and understand the interlink between design criteria and the economic impact of various options. Hands on skills will be taught and representative installations will be visited, discussed, and analyzed. NABCEP test preparation will be provided. Each PV class is preceded by a 2 session Math/Electricity Basics class for students who need to brush up on electricity concepts.

Bronx Community College September 7- November 15
FULL. Email Jill Cotter to be placed on a waiting list for the next available courseInstructor: Scott Sousa is project manager for Sun Power Systems with 25 years experience. He is a NY licensed master electrician and NABCEP Solar PV Certified and has installed over 100 solar electric systems on Long Island; residential, commercial and municipal. New York City Tech September 2- October 11FULL. Email Jill Cotter to be placed on a waiting list for the next available course

Instructor: Ron Stephan, Design Engineer with Solar Energy Systems, Inc., graduated from the FHTW Berlin, University of Applied Science with a degree in Environmental Engineering/Regenerative Energies and previously worked for Conergy AG in Germany on product management of mounting systems for PV systems. Instructor: Hugo Pedernera, Project Manager with Mercury Solar, has been active in all facets of PV projects for over 14 years. Hugo has worked for Solar Energy Systems , Odyne and altPower, designing and installing commercial and residential turnkey projects.

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Indian Point Independent Safety Evaluation (ISE)

The Indian Point Independent Safety Evaluation (ISE) Panel is a body of 12 experts in nuclear safety, security, emergency preparedness and public policy. At the request of Entergy Corporation, the owner of the Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC), the Panel conducted a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the Indian Point nuclear power station in Buchanan, New York. The Panel operated openly and transparently, as required in its Charter. They evaluated Indian Point performance in comparison with their own experience and expectations for high-performing nuclear plants both in the United States and internationally.The Panel concluded that the IPEC is a safe plant and that Entergy is attentive to nuclear safety.

Operations are conducted competently and professionally, meeting the high standards of the U.S. nuclear industry. Plant safety systems are well maintained and reliable. IPEC’s performance compares favorably to high performing plants in most aspects of nuclear safety.

However, the Panel found that IPEC’s relationship with the public and stakeholders, particularly on matters of emergency preparedness, is not healthy. Overall, the Panel found that security at the plant is strong. The Panel operated with complete independence and had full access to the plant and its employees. Its written report, prepared independently from Entergy, is being made available to the public without editing by any party. (ISE Report)

Green Taxis Required By October 1st

New York is the only city in the United States that has mandated the use of hybrid gas-electric vehicles for its taxi fleet. The old taxis that get less than 25 miles per gallon must be replaced by Oct 1, 2008. The following models have been approved: Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Camry, Toyota Pius, Toyota Highlander, Mercury Mariner, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue Green Line, Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima. It is estimated that 500,000 tons of greenouse gas emissions will be cut each year by this change over. There are approximately 13,000 taxis in New York City. Normally, about 3,000 are replaced each year. (USA Today, 7/18/08)

RGGI CO2 Allowance Tracking System Now Available

The RGGI CO2 Allowance Tracking System (RGGI COATS) is now available and can also be accessed through the track system. Parties that wish to participate in the first RGGI CO2 Allowance Auction on September 25, 2008 must open a general account in RGGI COATS.

The auction process for the first RGGI CO2 Allowance Auction begins with the release of the Auction Notice and application materials at 8:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 24, 2008. To learn more about how to participate in the first auction, you can log onto a conference call webinar on Thursday, July 24, 2008 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM EDT. Important details about how to participate in the auction will be covered. No questions will be taken during the webinar; however, an online question window opens the same day. The slide presentation for the webinar is available online: [Enter participant code 555661 and name, company, email address, and title]. To hear the audio presentation, participants must dial in to the following teleconference number: 1.888.875.4624 and participant code 555661#.

AAEA-NY Defends FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant

Statement Before Administrative Law Judge Helene Goldberger:

In connection with the Entergy Nuclear Fitzpatrick LLC (Fitzpatrick) Application for a New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Water Quality Certification (“WQC”), the African American Environmentalist Association-New York (“AAEA-NY”) submitted comments in support of granting a WQC based on environmental justice considerations.

The draft denial of the WQC may lead to the closure of the facility if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denies a license renewal based on the denial of a WQC. Any substantial reduction in the amount of electricity generated by Fitzpatrick will spark demand for replacement electricity from power plants in other parts of the state. Unfortunately, these plants are, for the most part, pollution-emitting fossil-fuel plants.

In New York City these plants are largely located in low-income and minority communities. As production at these fossil-fuel plants increases, the air quality in and around these plants will further deteriorate, causing a spike in the incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in these vulnerable communities. The denial of the WQC, to the extent that it leads to fossil fuel replacement of Fitzpatrick, effectively places the interests of Lake Ontario fish eggs and larva over the health of New York’s low-income and minority communities.

Photo: Norris McDonald at FitzPatrick nuclear power plant in Scriba, New York.

FULL STATEMENT

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Pedicab: Asian Rickshaw Technology Environmentally Friendly

Pedicabs are a combination of entertainment, transportation, environmental statement and fill a unique cultural niche. There are about 500 pedicabs in NYC charging from $15 to $40 for a 10-30 minute ride. In Central Park, pedicabs now compete with horse-drawn carriages for romantic rides.

Manhattan Rickshaw Company (212) 604-4729 offers tours led by licensed guides. Southern Loop of Central Park ($75; 30-45 minutes), Greenwich Village ($75; 60-75 minutes) and Lower East Side/Chinatown/Little Italy ($140; up to two hours). Prices are per vehicle, which fit up to three passengers. The company will also design a tour designed to meet your interests.

Costco In Harlem?

We like the idea. You can buy everything at Costco. Well not everything but many things. And at very reasonable prices. The joing fee is not bad either.

It appears that Harlem might get a Costco because HomeDepot is having technical difficulties and is looking for another big box store to replace them. The store would be located at the East River Plaza shopping center, currently being constructed at costs that have mushroomed to $440 million. The Costco site would take up 110,000 square feet of the first floor of the shopping center.

The 485,000 square foot shopping center will have an attached 1,248 space parking facility and is along the FDR Drive between E. 166th and E. 199th streets. The project is expected to create 1,400 full-time jobs. (Daily News 6/23/08)

Hunts Point Produce Market Move Could Help Clean Air

Although the Hunts Point produce market is the most profitable such facility in the world with about $2 billion in annual revenues, the bounty does not seem to benefit the surrounding area and air pollution is significantly increased due to all of the truck traffic. The privately owned wholesale fruit and vegetable cooperative is threatening to move because the city will not put up $150 million to help build a new $750 facility. The Hunts Point Food Distribution Center also houses the New Fulton Fish Market and includes other meats. Our take on the move threat: don't let the door hit you on the way out.

The Bronx is already inundated with all kinds of pollution generating sites. Losing this massive source of truck traffic will ease the air pollution burden on this section of New York. There are already power plants nearby, sewage treatment, bus depots, trash transfer stations and highway thoroughfares undermining the health of residents. Let the lease expire in 2011. Turn it into a park or green jobs center. Put that $150 million into manufacturing green products. Maybe there should be multiple facilities anyway instead of one central wholesale outlet in the area. (New York Post 6/11/08)

Legislature Fails To Renew Article X Again

Article X is a streamlined process for licensing electricity generating power plants in New York. The law expired at the end of 2001 and has not been renewed so there is no reasonable process for siting new large power plants. State Senator George Maziarz (R-Newfane), who heads the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, says legislation will be considered during the 2009 session. The Senate 2008 legislative session ends June 23. The state Assembly is scheduled to adjourn later that week.

Under Article X, it took approximately five years from the submittal of the license application to the opening of a new power plant. Power plants can still be sited in the state today, but the permitting process is much slower because of having to complete separate reviews before various municipal governments and agencies. That process is impractical and prohibitive to utility companies. Plants under 80 megawatts can still be constructed without Article X reauthorization. (BizJournals, The Business Review, 6/3/08)

New York Urban League 43rd Annual Frederick Douglass Award Dinner

The New York Urban League honored three people at its 43rd Annual Frederick Douglass Award Dinner: 1) Marva Allen, Owner, Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe, 2) Raymond J. McGuire, Co-Head, Global Investment Banking, Institutional Clients Group, Citi, and 3) Franklin A. Thomas, Consultant, TFF Study Group (formerly President of the Ford Foundation). Masters of Ceremony for the event were Michelle Miller, New York Based Correspondent, CBS News and Peter Thorne, Weekend Anchor/Reporter, CW11 News at Ten.

Champions of Diversity Awards went to: Bank of America, Darden Restaurants, FedEx Express and Yoyota Motor North America.

AAEA President Norris McDonald attended the event and noted that he was delighted to meet Melvin Van Peebles and greet Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The dinner was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the views down onto Columbus Circle and Central Park were stunning.

Compact Fluorescent Light Replacements for Public Housing

Approximately 19,000 incandescent light bulbs are being replaced with complex fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in the 343 public housing complexes in the city. The New York Public Housing Authority currently spends about $7.4 million a year for electricity at Castle Hill Houses and Queensbridge South and North complexes. It is projected that the CFLs will reduce electricity costa by 17%. (Daily News, 4/29/08)

Broadwater Appeals State Rejection To Fed Commerce Dept

Broadwater Energy (Shell Oil & TransCanada) are bypassing the state and appealing to the U.S. Department of Commerce to get approval for their proposed floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in the middle of Long Island Sound.

Governor Patterson rejected the LNG proposal in April on environmental and safety grounds and the project was also opposed by Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. The $700 million project would probably be very helpful in providing natural gas to TransCanada's recently purchased Ravenswood power plant.

Replacing Charles Poletti With A New Electricity Powerplant

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has authorized the selection of Astoria Energy LLC to provide electricity to NYPA's government customers in the city. Astoria Energy plans to build a new natural gas-fueled generating plant in Queens to supply power under a proposed 20-year contract with NYPA. The plant will help make up for the Power Authority's scheduled retirement in January 2010 of the Charles Poletti Power Project, also in Astoria. Astoria Energy expects the new plant, which is fully licensed, to be in service by the summer of 2011.

We were wondering how a new powerplant could be approved without an Article X powerplant licensing law (review process) in place, but evidently this plant had been previously approved before the expiration of Article X of the New York State Public Service Law . In 2001, the New York State Siting Board approved the construction of 1,000 mw of generating capacity at a 23-acre site in Astoria. Astoria Energy completed the first phase of the project in May 2006 when it placed in service a 500-mw combined-cycle facility for providing power to Con Edison. The pending supply contract with the Power Authority provides for Astoria Energy's implementation of the next phase with the construction of the second 500-mw facility.

NYPA trustees authorized the new supply contract, pending completion of final negotiations with Astoria Energy and the approval of the agreement by the New York City governmental customers, for the supply of 500 megawatts (mw) of generating capacity. The customers include the City of New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York City Housing Authority and the New York State Office of General Services. The new supply contract will provide reliable generating capacity for New York City schools and hospitals, the subways and commuter trains, public housing and other essential services in the city.

The new state-of-the-art, natural gas fueled power plant planned by Astoria Energy

will use a combined-cycle technology in which hot exhaust gas normally lost in the combustion process is captured by heatrecovery steam generators to produce additional electricity. The new facility will consume 30 percent less fuel per unit of electricity than a conventional power plant. Combined-cycle technology enables NYPA's 500-mw power plant to generate 50 percent more electricity from its fuel than it would with a conventional single-cycle power system. Under this dual-phase system, two combustion turbine-generators operate in conjunction with two heat-recovery steam generators and a steam turbine-generator. In the first cycle, fuel is burned and the resulting combustion gases power two turbine-generators to produce electricity. Hot exhaust normally lost during this process is captured and routed through the two heat-recovery steam generators. These units boil water to create steam, which spins an additional turbine-generator and produces more electricity. Finally, the steam is discharged into a condenser, which returns the steam to its liquid state for recycling.

In addition to that proposal, NYPA previously selected a joint proposal by Hudson Transmission and FPL Energy, in November 2006 that would involve construction of a new 345- kilovolt transmission line under the Hudson River to deliver up to 500 mw of supply capacity from an existing power plant in Central New Jersey. The additional power supplies from both RFPs are needed for the New York City governmental customers' long-term needs.

NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. It is the nation's largest state-owned electric utility, with 18 generating facilities in various parts of the state and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. (The Queens Gazette) (NYPA Combined Cycle)

Entergy 1st Utility To Purchase Carbon Emissions Credits

According to the Pew Center for Global Climate Change, in December 2003, Entergy became the first U.S. utility to purchase carbon emissions credits from geological sequestration projects. Entergy also sequesters CO2 by planting thousands of trees on its landholdings and among other credits, leased 30,000 tons of CO2 offset credits from the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association. (Electric Light & Power)

See also: The Lieberman-Warner America's Climate Security Act of 2007

New York City Drinking Water Supply System

The New York City water supply system utilizes three separate systems of reservoirs, which obtain water from some 2,000 square miles of watershed in upstate New York. The three systems include the Croton System, the Catskill System and the Delaware System. The three elements of the New York City delivery system represent separate systems without direct inter-connections. Two tunnels City Tunnel No. 1 and No. 2 carry water from the Croton System to New York City. The Richmond Tunnel carries water from City Tunnel No. 2 to Staten Island. A new tunnel, City Tunnel No. 3, has been under construction since 1970. Most of the work in Manhattan and the Bronx has been completed. Tunneling is underway in Brooklyn and Queens.

Today, 50% of the city’s water comes from the Delaware system, 40% from the Catskill system, and the remaining 10% comes from the Croton system. The city now has 19 reservoirs; the farthest is 120 miles from central Manhattan. This long travel time, which is powered by gravity, results in most of the microbes dying naturally. The water is treated with:

chlorine to kill organisms,
fluoride to prevent
tooth decay,
sodium hydroxide to raise pH levels, and
orthophosphate, a substance that coats pipes, to prevent lead from leaching into the drinking water.

The Croton System is the oldest controlling flow from 12 reservoirs and five lakes which covers about 370 square miles of the Croton River Drainage Basin. The average yield of the system is 300 million gallons per day (MGD). The Catskill System consists of two reservoirs, the Ashokan and the Schoharie. The Ashokan Reservoir impounds water from 247 square miles of the drainage and the Schoharie Reservoir impounds water from the 314 square mile drainage basin. The Ashokan and Schoharie Reservoirs drain into the Catskill Aqueduct with a capacity of 550 MGD. The Delaware System consists of three reservoirs located in the Delaware River Basin, the Canonsville, Pepacton and Neversink Reservoirs, and the Rondout Reservoir on Rondout Creek in the Hudson River Basin. The safe yield of the entire Delaware water system is 610 MGD. (New York City Water Supply)

$3 Billion Bronx Water Filtration Plant Targeted For 2012

New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection is building a water filtration plant in the Bronx capable of purifying 300 million gallons of water a day. It will be one of the largest in the world when completed in 2012. The 10-story-deep hole for the plant was blasted out of bedrock (Fordham gneiss), which forms the pit's walls, and will filter water from the Croton watershed in Westchester County. The original cost estimate for the project in 1998 was $660 million but the cost is now estimated to be $3 billion.

The pipe that will bring in untreated water from the Croton reservoir system is 12 feet in diameter. The two outflow pipes have 9-foot diameters. The water will be purified in a “stacked dissolved air flotation system,” which uses several layers of filters to remove impurities.

The city was forced to build the plant because water from the Croton watershed did not meet federal standards for safety and purity. Although the Croton system can supply nearly 30 percent of the city’s 1.1 billion gallons a day of drinking water, generally it supplies just 10 percent, mostly in the Bronx and northern Manhattan. The rest of the city’s water comes from the Catskill Mountains and the Delaware System and is so clean that the city last year won a 10-year exemption from federal regulations requiring that all surface drinking water be filtered. (The New York Times)

Omar Freilla: Green Jobs Guru of the South Bronx

Omar Freilla, left, was promoting green jobs before it was cool. His Green Worker Cooperative (GWC) on Timpson Place between Bruckner and Southern Boulevards and East 149th Streets is demonstrating how recycling can help save the environment and create valuable jobs. If Mr. Freilla has his way he will turn the Hunts Point dumping ground into a mecca for urban recycling.

His Green Worker Cooperative recently received $900,000 in financing from the state, other cooperatives and church groups to run the operation for a few years. GWC is accumulating toilets, doors, decorative gravel, ceiling fans and every other item it can to process at its 18,000-square-foot warehouse. New items are sold at a 25 percent discount, while used goods would be sold for half price.

AAEA has particulated in conferences organized by Mr. Freilla. His dedication is second to none and we are sure that he will be very successful in establishing recycling as a renewable energy jobs alternative in the South Bronx. AAEA stands prepared to cooperate with Mr. Freilla in any way we can. Keep up the great work Omar. (The New York Times)

Another Jones Beach Wind Farm Electricity Proposal

Florida Power and Light tried and failed last year to get permission from Long Island Power and Light (LIPA) to construct a wind farm off the coast of Jones Beach. Now Winergy intends to convince LIPA that it can build 86 turbines 15 miles in the Atlantic Ocean that will provide about 300 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 300,000 homes. Winergy actually amended its proposal to include 260 turbines that would provide 940 megawatts, which would provide enough electricity for almost a million homes. The turbines would be about 15 miles offshore. Cape Wind is seeking permission to build a similar project in Nantucket Sound off the coast of Massachusetts. AAEA supports both projects. (testimony)

In addition to the Jones Beach proposal, Winergy has a proposal for a 600 megawatt farm adjacent to the Long Island proposal that would include 167 turbines and connect to a ConEd substation in Manhattan. (Newsday.com)