The Charles Poletti
Power Project
The
Charles Poletti Power Project is located in Astoria, Queens, across
the East River from Manhattan's skyscrapers. It is named for the
only person to serve as both Governor of New York and a Power
Authority trustee
Poletti's "dual fuel" capability
The Power Authority purchased the Poletti project, then known as
Astoria 6, from Con Edison in 1974, when the oil-fueled plant was
still under construction. The project began generating electricity
in 1977; by 1980, a conversion was completed that allowed the
facility to use either oil or natural gas. This “dual-fuel”
capability allows the Power Authority to switch back and forth,
depending on fuel availability, pricing and other considerations.
The project was named after Charles Poletti in 1982.
Who benefits most?
The 885-megawatt (mw) Poletti project, and a new
500-mw combined-cycle power plant built directly next door,
enable the Power Authority to meet the electricity requirements
of its large government customers in New York City, who save
hundreds of millions of dollars a year in lower energy costs by
using NYPA-generated electricity. They include tax-supported
schools, hospitals, municipal buildings, and the metropolitan
region’s subways and commuter trains.
Because NYPA’s new combined-cycle facility is
cleaner and more efficient than many older power plants in the
city, plans are underway to eventually shut down the Poletti
project. An historic agreement among the Power Authority, New York
City officials and local environmental groups that will retire
the Poletti project no later than 2010 was announced in Sept.
2002.
In addition to this agreement, the Power
Authority has taken many other steps to improve the air quality
around New York City. Besides making technical and operational
changes involving its Astoria facilities, NYPA has also invested
heavily in energy efficiency and clean air initiatives, spending
hundreds of millions of dollars in all five boroughs of New
York. The projects reduce electricity usage, save taxpayer
dollars and also limit greenhouse gas emissions. These benefits,
along with low-cost power, are examples of how the Power
Authority serves the people of New York City without the use of
tax monies or state credit.
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