Repowering Could Prove An Economic And Environmental Boost

The Town of Huntington is calling for the repowering of the Northport Power Station in its fight with LIPA over the plant's assessed value.

According to the Town, the assessment issue would be eliminated should the plant be repowered, saving residents from a possible major tax increase over the next ten years.

Sen. John Flanagan, R-East Northport, agreed. In an open letter, he stated that repowering the Northport plant "would not only generate greater efficiencies and savings for ratepayers, but would also generate greater tax revenues for the Town of Huntington and the Northport-East Northport School District."

Related: Town, Village Implore Residents to Help Fight LIPA Assessment Challenge l Town Refuses LIPA Settlement Offer 

So what are some positives and negatives of repowering the largest oil-fired electric generating station on the East Coast?

According to LIPA representative Elizabeth Flagler, power output would likely increase as the plant would be considerably more efficient and less expensive to operate.

"Design, engineering, and cost studies would first need to be conducted based on the available land at the site, natural gas system capability, and electric system interconnections," said Flagler. "The size of any potentially repowered facility could be larger or smaller than the current facility."

To repower the plant, a new combined cycle unit unit would be installed that is up to 40 percent more efficient and would comply with more stringent federal and state air, water, and land-use regulations.

"Currently, the Northport Power Station is the second most polluting power plant in the northeast for carbon dioxide emissions," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, "which is obviously the primary player in climate change."

Repowering, she said, would mean cleaner emissions in the form of reduced carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide. It would also mean a closed-loop cooling system that may save close to one billion fish and shellfish per year.

"Right now, Northport has an antiquated cooling system that is open loop and draws millions of gallons of water from Long Island Sound," said Esposito. "When it draws the water it kills the multitude of fish eggs and juvenile fish and small shellfish. By putting in a closed loop system, which they're required to have by federal law, it will help restore fish productivity in the Sound."

Increased efficiency, lessened environmental impact and a solution to the Town's possible tax crisis: It sounds like a solve-all, doesn't it?

Not really, said Esposito. She called the Town's push for repowering to avoid the possible tax impact of a successful assessment challenge from LIPA "myopic and short-sighted."

"Long Island shouldn't be re-addicting ourselves to fossil fuels. It's convenient and quick, but it's not the best public policy. LIPA should be seriously considering the large scale offshore wind projects in the Atlantic and off of Rhode Island, those two projects together can generate almost 1500 MW of clean power," Esposito said. "Repowering is one way to meet our energy needs, but it's not the best way. If we really want to roll into the millenium with a safer, cleaner energy policy we'd move toward renewables."

While Governor Andrew Cuomo declined the Town's request to include a clause to repower the Northport plant in his LIPA reform legislation, a path exploring a repowering option is laid out in the Power Supply Agreement between LIPA and PSEG.

According to the agreement, Northport is at the back of the line for evaluation as to whether it can be repowered, behind the E.F. Barrett and Port Jefferson steam plants. At that time, said Flagler, costs and benefits for the utility and its customers will be assessed and compared to other possible alternatives.

The PSA also outlines a potential phase-out schedule for any plants that cannot be repowered or that fail to continue operating economically.

Do you think the Northport plant should be repowered? Tell us in the comment section below.