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Passing the Power Test
This Summer |
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Before the summer heat tests the limits of Long Island’s energy resources, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has embarked on a “multi-pronged” approach to meeting consumer electric needs. “Make no mistake,” LIPA Chairman
Richard Kessel told a joint hearing of the Nassau and Suffolk
Legislatures. “There will be a day when we wake up and worry.”
While his predictions of a power crunch fall well short of the crisis
faced in California, Kessel said even with consumer cooperation on
conservation, the construction of a 44 MW plant, and limited
transmission upgrades LIPA will be hard-pressed to keep pace with
demand. Within the next year LIPA proposes to build 6-8 additional 44 MW peaking power plants across LI. These LM6000 units are the same as the one NYPA will bring on line this summer in Brentwood and the same as being proposed by Kings Park Energy (KPE) for its 300 MW plant in Kings Park. Although the technology is the same, the LIPA plants will not need to go through the arduous Article X siting process and will be operational much quicker because of their size. However, according to LIPA, the technology of the LM6000 is less efficient and economical than modern baseload plants would be. Although a stop-gap solution, they enable the company to site plants where additional power is needed and transmission is either available or can be built in a limited area.(Pictured: Denis Sneden, HTCC, Richard Kessel, LIPA, Elaine Turley, KPCOC)
On Thursday LIPA was joined by representatives of the Chambers of Commerce in both Counties to kick off a conservation program, “Watts Going Down....” The program will leverage the accessibility of small businesses to LIPA residential customer base and encourage homeowners to employ the various conservation programs it offers. LIPA maintains that if consumers follow conservation practices it could mean as much as 50 MW more energy available on a day when the system reaches its limits. Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) asked if a comprehensive plan detailing the Island’s projected needs along with transmission and generation infrastructure existed. The short answer was no, although Kessel said LIPA has a plan of what it is looking to build. Characteristic of siting unpopular entities such as power plants, landfills, incinerators, and junkyards along municipal borders, the proposed Keyspan plant in Melville is so close to the town and county line that residents of Old Bethpage are actually in closer proximity than those in Huntington. Judy Jacobs (D), Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, inquired why those residents were not advised or consulted during the process. Legislators have to lead the people in understanding and have them not oppose new plants, Kessel warned. “Without new power plants and new transmission [lines] electric outages are likely,” he said. In meeting with Legislators, Kessel was seeking their assistance in convincing residents of not only the need for additional power plants, but to defuse public protests over siting choices. “If everyone opposes everything we will not have enough energy to go around,” he said. Essentially he wants the Legislature to “help us get power plants sited” despite acknowledging that the lawmakers have no authority on the issue. “In California, the public wasn’t ready,” Kessel said, adding that the Legislators were needed to help the public “understand” the economic and energy issues. While Suffolk County has “more land” Kessel noted that they are looking at sites in Nassau County for baseload plants as well as the 44 MW peak plants because the LI grid is interconnected. But it isn’t enough for so-called “merchant power companies” to simply come to LI and build power plants, Kessel said. They must be prepared to invest in the infrastructure to deliver that power to where it is needed. Transmission resources are also almost at their limits, and “upgrades should be made and paid for by [the merchant companies], according to Kessel. “What’s happening is a merchant company buys a site and then comes to LIPA,” he said. “Our ratepayers should not have to bear the burden.” Kessel said that although LIPA has not decided whether to purchase KeySpan’s power plants, “we’re leaning toward yes.” Owning power plants is critical to maintaining supply, he noted. “Whoever owns the power plants will control energy generation on LI.” However, he warned against any level of government putting controls on power plant siting. “The more restrictions you put on power plants, the less likely developers will come here to build.” In addition to siting, he warned against putting environmental restrictions such as storage of alternative fuels on the site. Most plants on LI operated on gas or oil and “switch to oil for economic reasons” during the year, he explained. Among the programs LIPA is offering to reduce usage during the hottest summer days are internet-based home air conditioning controls which allow the utility to turn down or off residential central air conditioning systems or window/wall units during the day. The homeowner could over-ride the controls and would receive a payment for joining the system. This is one-step beyond the rebate program which offers consumer $75 to replace aging inefficient window air conditioners with more energy efficient models. In addition, many commercial customers have agreed, as in the past, to cut their usage on request. These measures, in concert with direct conservation outreach programs and the anticipated delivery of the 44 MW Brentwood plant will carry the utility through a sustained heat spell, according to LIPA.
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LIPA
has embarked on a “multi-pronged” approach in its public campaign
to educate and persuade people of the near desperate need for
trans-Sound cables and additional power plants. According to Kessel,
the Authority has met with State representatives in addition to the
Joint Nassau/Suffolk Legislative hearing Wednesday and will be talking
to Town Supervisors shortly. 
