Photo courtesy of Pythia Public

Dozens of Queens community members and leaders showed up at the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement last week to speak out in support of the Queensboro Renewable Express, a proposed transmission project designed to deliver offshore wind energy to the Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City.

Rise Light and Power, which owns the Ravenswood Generating Station and seeks to develop the project, plans to transform its fossil-fuel-powered plant into a clean energy hub that will utilize wind energy. The company presented its plan at two information sessions, which were followed by public statement hearings hosted by officials from the New York State Department of Public Service. All participants at the hearings spoke in favor of the project, while none voiced any opposition.

“We’re grateful to this community for their strong support and to Riis Settlement and the NYS Department of Public Service for hosting us,” said Clint Plummer, CEO of Rise Light and Power. “This project is a critical part of our Renewable Ravenswood vision, under which we plan to transform the site into a clean energy hub, providing a just transition for our union workforce and an environmental justice win for western Queens. We are honored to have earned strong support for this project from residents and leaders across the city who recognize the importance of bringing clean energy to Ravenswood.”

The company needs the plans to get the approval of the New York State Public Service Commission for the project to move forward. The meetings were part of the “Article VII” process, which is required to determine whether the project and accompanying plans meet the state’s needs.

If approved, the Queensboro Renewable Express will deliver renewable energy from one or more offshore wind farms to New York City via underwater transmission cables and related onshore facilities located at the Ravenswood Generating Station. It will have the capacity to deliver over 25% of the renewable energy New York State is seeking from offshore wind, which will help the state achieve its target of 100% emission-free electricity by 2040.

All of its onshore components will be located at the Ravenswood Generating Station, New York City’s largest power generator, which today powers one in five homes in NYC on the hottest days of the year. All of its offshore components will be safely buried beneath the floor of the East River, New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.

“This project is essential for the future of renewable energy in New York. It is closely aligned with and will advance the goals of the CLCPA and will help support the move to electrification here in New York City. RISE has committed fully to this project as well as many others and we strongly urge the state to award this project in advancement of its goals of a cleaner environment and moving away from the use of fossil fuels,” said James Shillitto, President of the Utility Workers Union of America, Local 1-2.

Meanwhile, non-profit leaders also voiced their support for the plan.

“As the CEO and co-founder of a nonprofit that fights for economic justice, as well as a lifelong Queensbridge Houses community member who has personally experienced economic injustice, I am proud to express my support for Rise Light and Power’s Renewable Ravenswood Project. This project will bring real careers and valuable workforce development to western Queens, as well as improve the health and well-being of those who call this region home. I urge the Public Service Commission to approve Queensboro Development LLC’s application,” said Bishop Mitchell Taylor, CEO of Urban Upbound.

Members of the NAACP also came out to back the project.

“Renewable Ravenswood is New York City’s most significant environmental justice project, and the Queensboro Community Express is its foundation. You saw vocal community support because this is a community-driven project to transform New York City’s largest fossil fuel plant into a renewable energy hub, and we will stand behind it and fight for it until it becomes a reality. Thousands of NYCHA residents want clean energy, good-paying jobs and transformational investment, which the Queensboro Renewable Express will provide,” said Lynn Spivey, President, NAACP-NYCHA Branch.

Environmental groups also provided support.

“NYC-EJA is encouraged by the strong and positive feedback from laborers, residents and other advocates during the Queensboro Renewable Express public information session and hearings. We commend Rise Light and Power for taking this step in implementing a just transition for New York’s largest power plant, bringing urgent relief to Queens’ asthma alley and towards the Climate Act’s 70% renewables and zero emissions energy grid mandates,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.

“Tuesday’s public hearing demonstrated that when it comes to clean energy, New Yorkers understand that there can be no transition without transmission. Bringing offshore wind power efficiently from Long Island to the Ravenswood Generating Station will help the site’s decarbonization journey from a fossil fuel power plant to a clean energy hub that’ll advance environmental justice and serve as an example of the way forward for countless power plants across the state and country,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

Meanwhile, grassroots organizations also said they backed it.

“I strongly urge Article VII be granted for the Queensboro Renewable Express. It is time to break the cycle of pollution in our neighborhoods. It is time we preserve good jobs and create opportunities for our neighborhoods. And it is time for this community to bear the benefits of renewable energy. Ensuring that this project moves forward guarantees all of that and helps us create a supply chain of renewable energy right here in Queens,” said Costa Constantinides, CEO of Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens.

Local business groups are also urging the Public Service Commission to approve the plan.

“Long Island City Partnership is pleased to see unanimous support at public hearings for the Queensboro Renewable Express – a common-sense infrastructure project to deliver clean power to Queens. Approval of the project will allow for a generational shift in the way we get our energy while preserving high-quality union jobs,” said Laura Rothrock, President of Long Island City Partnership.

To learn more about the project and to provide public comment, visit https://queensbororenewableexpress.com/.