NYC Assembly Members battle for clean energy

After this past summer’s primary elections, NYC now has new Assembly Members  who are working towards ending oil-burning and gas-fired units and generators. According to an analysis from the PEAK coalition, (an alliance of five clean-energy and environmental justice groups) “peaker” plant owners received $4.5 billion from 2010 to 2019 from the city. These “peaker” plants are basically on standby for if the city has an increased need for electricity like during summer when everyone has their AC on. A research group called Strategen Consulting estimated that those stations run for an average of 6% of the year, or about 500 hours a year.

Some peaker plants are over 50 years old, and building any new gas units guarantees their use for decades in the future.  With air quality concerns growing, especially in western Queens with a stretch called “Asthma Alley” in Astoria, experts are recommending that space be used for battery storage instead.

Source: Huff Post