LIPA and National Grid Create Repowering Stakeholder Committee for Northport
and Port Jefferson Power Stations
Uniondale, NY—February 15, 2008— A Repowering Stakeholder Committee
created by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and National Grid consisting
of government, environmental, and business representatives held its initial
meeting today at National Grid’s Melville offices.
LIPA and National Grid issued an RFP in December of 2007 for a study to
investigate the economic and technical feasibility of repowering options at the
Northport and Port Jefferson Power Stations. The Stakeholder Committee was
formed to assist LIPA and National Grid in this effort.
“The Stakeholder Committee is an essential element of the repowering study,”
said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “LIPA is committed to delivering
clean, safe, reliable and economical electric service to its customers. The
Committee will help us to determine if we can achieve these goals through
repowering options at these sites.”
"National Grid has been working on this issue for some time now," said Robert
B. Catell, Chairman of National Grid US. "We are encouraged that Kevin Law is
showing tremendous leadership in this important issue."
The repowering study will investigate options for these two sites using both
traditional “hybrid” repowering scenarios which utilize the existing steam
turbines and “backyard” or site repowering scenarios in which a new, highly
efficient combined cycle facility is constructed on the existing site. The
benefits of repowering existing plants include greater efficiency, increased
capacity and reduced emission rates. This study will also look at the financial
implications to ratepayers as repowering our plants could indeed be very
expensive.
The Stakeholder Committee will be provided information for review and comment
throughout the study period and will interact with LIPA, National Grid and Shaw Stone
& Webster, the consultant selected to perform the study, as the study
proceeds.
Items that must be thoughtfully considered include engineering and technical
feasibilities, economics, and environmental impacts. These are only several of
many factors which will weigh in the ultimate decision, which is why LIPA/National
Grid assembled this panel of individuals who know Long Island and care deeply
about its future to assist in reviewing the available options.
“The formation of the Repowering Stakeholder Committee is the first step in a
very important process to determine the most efficient and effective way to
generate power at the Port Jefferson and Northport Power Stations,” said Senator
Kenneth P. LaValle. “I look forward to working with LIPA, National Grid and the
community to ensure that any decision will be environmentally sound and serve
the best interests of ratepayers.”
“The LIPC strongly believes that Long Island power plants should be
repowered,” said Lisa Tyson, Stakeholder Committee member and Director of the
Long Island Progressive Coalition. “We are excited that LIPA and National Grid
have created this Committee and we are pleased that the LIPC is involved and
will have its voice heard as part of this process.”
For more information on the repowering RFP visit the LIPA Web site at
http://www.lipower.org/company/papers/rfp/repowering.html.
In the US, National Grid delivers electricity to
approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York
and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an
agreement with the Long Island Power Authority. National Grid is the largest
power producer in New York State, owning 6,650 megawatts of electricity
generation that provides power to over one million customers on Long Island and
supplies roughly a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs. It is also the
largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving
approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
and Rhode Island. |
