Our Neighborhood -- Their Target!

by Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Task Force

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

In the spring of 2001, TransGas Energy Systems, L.L.C. (TGE) began steps to construct an 1100-megawatt power plant, the largest of its kind in New York City, on the nine-acre site between North 12th and North 14th Streets, from Kent Avenue to the East River, in the heart of Greenpoint-Williamsburg community.

The Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Task Force, a growing coalition of more than 60 community groups, is organized to defeat the TransGas power plant proposal.

WHAT THEY CLAIM...WHAT WE KNOW

TGE claims we need this plant to meet our city's growing energy demands.

In response to energy shortages predicted for last summer, The New York Power Authority built 11 new power plants--the "crisis" never materialized, and three of these plants remain idle--North Brooklyn is presently home to 5 existing or approved power plants along a 1/1/2 mile stretch of the East River--These facilities more than meet both current and projected energy needs for our city.

TGE claims the plant will not harm the environment.

Our neighborhood is already over-burdened with the highest concentration of waste transfer stations in the city, the largest sewage treatment plant in the Northeast, an underground 17-million gallon Mobil Oil spill (larger than the Exxon-Valedez spill in Alaska), a nuclear waste disposal facility, freight transportation, paint and plastic bag manufacture, and over 3500-per-day truck traffic--More than a hundred facilities with air pollution permits are now sited within one mile of the proposed TGE site--The North Greenpoint/Williamsburgh area presently does not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards for carbon monoxide, ozone precursors, and particulate matter--TGE's proposed plant would introduce some 2000 tons of additional toxic emissions each year, including more than 500 tons of particulate matter.

TGE claims its plant will support the local economy.

The Polish and Slavic Credit Union estimates that property values near the site would fall as much as 40% subsequent to the construction of this plant--Businesses are expected to suffer as well--The overall net loss in community revenue is likely to overshadow any promised gain in tax revenue from TGE.

TGE claims its plant does not pose a threat to community health.

Fine particulate matter has been strongly linked to increased asthma rates, upper respiratory illness, and increased frequency of heart attacks and cardiac fatalities--Areas of our community already have the third-highest rate of asthma and childhood leukemia in the city, and a cancer rate several times higher than the national average--The proposed plant is adjacent to a new public park and private residences, and just a few blocks from McCarren Park, schools, businesses, houses of worship, a land-marked historic district, and a proposed national historic site--The plant's 300-foot-tall smokestacks would disperse its emissions another 2.5 miles into the surrounding area, with prevailing winds driving these pollutants further into the densely populated Greenpoint and Williamsburgh neighborhoods.

WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE?

Every government-and community-sponsored planning study of this waterfront site has called for redevelopment consistent with the robust socio-economic growth experienced by the community over the last twenty years. This includes rezoning to create opportunities for residential and commercial development, as well as park land and public access to the shoreline. The community's detailed plans for rezoning and redevelopment were recently approved by the city council. The TGE plant, located less than two blocks from the long-awaited waterfront park (co-developed by NYU and the State of New York), would jeopardize these plans, which community groups have worked on for more than ten years.

WHAT MUST BE DONE

Before it can build its plant TGE must win approval from the state in a licensing process known as Article X (ten); this process is overseen by the New York State Public Service Commission. Under state law, both TransGas and the PSC must seek community input on the proposed project. Currently, TransGas, state officials, and the community are negotiating on impact studies which TransGas must undertake as part of its application process. Agreement on the studies is expected by this summer, with TransGas likely to file its formal application by this winter. At that point, the legal and political battle begins in earnest as TransGas attempts to advance its proposals through a series of hearings, briefs, and permit approvals.

The Task Force has secured legal representation from Pace University Energy Project, New York's leading energy law institute. With their help, we must challenge the Article X process, and convince the state that TGE's proposal poses serious environmental and health risks to the community, violates the principle of environmental justice, and is incompatible with preexisting plans for the waterfront.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

A victory over the TransGas developers is within our means, but will take time, money, and plenty of good old-fashioned community action. The Task Force has mounted an ambitious community outreach and action campaign. Funds must be raised to pay the legal and administrative costs of this battle, and volunteers are needed to address the hundreds of tasks, large and small, that will add up to success.