QUEENS RESIDENTS VOICE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROJECT CONNECTING OFFSHORE WIND TO RAVENSWOOD

Before State Officials, Queens Residents, Community, Business & Environmental Justice Leaders Gave Supportive Public Input as Part of State Permitting Process

QUEENS, NY, July 24, 2024 — Dozens of Queens community members and leaders showed up at the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement this week to speak out in support of the Queensboro Renewable Express, a proposed major transmission project designed to deliver offshore wind energy to the Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City. Rise Light & Power, which owns Ravenswood and is developing this project, presented 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 & 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 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 in achieving 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.
 
​”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 wellbeing of those who call this region home. I urge the Public Service Commission to approve Queensboro Development LLC’s application for an Article VII Certificate, which is critical for the success of Renewable Ravenswood,” said Bishop Mitchell Taylor, CEO of Urban Upbound.
 
“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 & Power for taking this step in implementing a just transition for New York’s largest power plant, bringing urgent relief to Queen’s asthma alley, and towards the Climate Act’s 70 percent renewables and zero emissions energy grid mandates,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.
 
“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.
 
“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.
 
“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 opportunity 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 & Girls Club of Queens.
 
“Sierra Club is excited to support the Queensboro Renewable Express. This transmission line is crucial to bringing offshore wind to New York, a key element to help New York State meet our climate goals of 100% zero emission electricity by 2040. Now more than ever we need to support projects like the Queensboro Renewable Expressas a necessary step to bringing clean, renewable energy to New York City,” said Allyson Samuell, Senior Campaign Organizer with the Sierra Club
 
“‘Renewable Ravenswood’ is a paradigm for the clean energy transition and the ‘Queensboro Renewable Express’ is an essential piece of the planned project that should be approved. Moving to 100% renewable energy is the type of ambitious aim that will help New York achieve its climate goals and will greatly improve the quality of lives in the plant’s New York City community. Moreover, the ‘Renewable Ravenswood’ plan commits to maintaining and retraining the entirety of its union workforce who keep the facility operating day-to-day. Climate Jobs New York strongly supports permitting for the ‘Queensboro Renewable Express’ as a vital step in a just energy transition,” said Ben Dorman, Deputy Director, Climate Jobs New York.
 
“The New York Building Congress has long advocated for the growth and success of the renewable energy sector, which is why we are proud to support RISE Light & Power’s Queensboro Renewable Express Project. The greater Renewable Ravenswood plan will allow for offshore wind energy to be transmitted to homes, schools, and businesses across New York City—and this transmission line is a crucial step. On behalf of the Building Congress, I urge the Public Service Commission to approve this project, and help move New York into a future free of fossil fuels,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President and CEO of the New York Building Congress
 
“The Waterfront Alliance is committed to sustainability and to mitigating the effects of climate change across the region’s hundreds of miles of waterfront. We are excited by the Queens Renewable Express project, which will enhance the resilience of our energy infrastructure, ensuring that it can withstand the impacts of climate change. This project is truly essential for New York’s sustainable future and to allow for the growth and development of the Offshore Wind Industry in the region — and we urge the New York State Public Service Commission to support this important initiative,” said Joseph Sutkowi, Chief Waterfront Design Officer at the Waterfront Alliance.
 
“This project is a brilliant idea and a great opportunity to provide offshore wind energy for not just the residents of Roosevelt Island, but all across the city. Roosevelt Island is a part of “Asthma Alley” and we are happy to see changes coming. This is a moral issue. We need this project, and the Queensboro Renewable Express awakens peoples’ thinking on what is possible for our community by reusing existing infrastructure here in New York City,” said Frank Farance, President of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association.
 
“For decades, the community surrounding the Ravenswood power plant has borne the brunt of pollution that can cause asthma, cancer, and other serious illnesses, in addition to fueling climate change. The Queensboro Renewable Express is critical to ensuring that renewable energy reaches New York City and will help put the state on track to meet our climate mandates and contribute to the just transition that we urgently need,” said Hillary Aidun, Senior Associate Attorney, Earthjustice.
 
“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, the Article VII process and opportunities to provide public comment on the Queensboro Renewable Express, please visit: https://queensbororenewableexpress.com/.
 
Contact:    Noah Richter, [917-586-3469], noah@pythiapublic.com  
           Lindsay Kryzak, [845-527-8663], lk@clintonstreetstrategies.com 

JACOB A RIIS NEIGHBORHOOD SETTLEMENT

New York State Public Service Commission is hosting public information forums and public statement hearings on July 23, 2024 as part of our Article VII proceeding! This is your chance to learn about and comment on our project that will support New York’s clean energy future.

Public Notice of Hearings

STATE OF NEW YORK
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
CASE 22-T-0670 – Petition of Queensboro Development, LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the Construction of Approximately 18.5 miles of Transmission Lines from the Boundary of New York State Waters to a Point of Interconnection in Queens, and Associated Equipment.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FORUMS AND PUBLIC STATEMENT HEARINGS, AND SOLICITING COMMENTS

On December 2, 2022, Queensboro Development, LLC (Queensboro) filed an application (Application) to construct, own, and operate the New York State components of the Queensboro Renewable Express, consisting of approximately 18.5 miles of transmission lines from the boundary of New York State waters to points of interconnection in Queens, New York, and associated equipment (the Project). The Project is proposed as a ±400 kilovolt (kV) merchant transmission facility with the capacity to deliver approximately 2.62 gigawatts of wind energy generated in federal waters into the New York Independent System Operator Zone J at the site of the Ravenswood Generating Facility in Queens, New York. The Project will be interconnected to the 345 kV Rainey Substation and the 138 kV Vernon Substation, which are owned and operated by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

Prior to beginning construction of the Project, Queensboro must first obtain a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Public Service Commission (Commission) pursuant to Article VII of the Public Service Law. Under New York State Law, the Commission may adopt or reject Queensboro’s proposal, in whole or part, or modify it. In doing

so, the Commission will consider input from the participating parties and the public. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence related to the Project. As indicated in this Notice, public statement hearings will be held to obtain comments from the public concerning Queensboro’s proposal.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that opportunities for public information and comment regarding Queensboro’s request will be provided as follows:

DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 2024

LOCATION: Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement 10-25 41st Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101

TIME: INFORMATION FORUMS 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC STATEMENT HEARINGS 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

During the scheduled information forums, maps of the proposed route will be available to review, and New York State Department of Public Service representatives will provide an overview of the Commission’s certification process. Queensboro will then present a brief summary of the Project. Members of the public will then have an opportunity to ask questions about the process and Queensboro’s pending Application.

Each information forum will be followed by a public statement hearing where those wishing to comment on Queensboro’s Application will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record before the ALJ. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance, or present written material to speak at a hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will be held open a minimum of 30 minutes and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. A verbatim transcript of each public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department of Public Service at 800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this Notice.

Other Ways to Comment
For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to “Case 22-T -0670” and must be received no later than September 23, 2024.
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “22-T-0670” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350.1 All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

The Application may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service website, www.dps.ny.gov. To access documents, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), and enter “22-T-0670” in the “Search by Case Number” field.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE: For further information concerning the Project, interested persons may contact the following:

Michelle L. Phillips
Secretary to the Commission
New York Public Service Commission
Empire State Plaza, Agency Building 3
Albany, New York 12223-1350
Phone: (518) 474-6530, Fax: (518) 474-9842
Email: secretary@dps.ny.gov

Wil Fisher
Queensboro Development, LLC
Phone: (718) 706-2002
Email: Queensboro@riselight.com

Rise Light & Power Achieves Major Milestone to Bring Offshore Wind to New York, Advancing Transformation of City’s Largest Fossil-Fuel Plant

Commencement of Permitting Enables Offshore Wind Power to be Delivered to Ravenswood Years Ahead of Other Projects, Helping New York Achieve its Nation-Leading Climate Goals  

Enables Nation’s First Renewable Repowering, Replacing Fossil Fuel Generators with Offshore Wind, Delivering Victories for Environmental Justice and Union Labor

Long Island City, New York, May 14, 2024 – Rise Light & Power achieved a significant milestone in its plan to deliver offshore wind to New York City when the New York State Department of Public Service (NYS DPS) deemed its application complete last week and officially launched public review under Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law, which governs siting of major utility transmission facilities. 

“Today’s action keeps us on track to transform New York City’s largest power plant into a clean energy hub, with offshore wind at its center. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, our partners in government, labor and our community for sharing the vision for a Renewable Ravenswood,” said Clint Plummer, CEO, Rise Light & Power. “We are looking forward to a robust public review that will set the standard for a responsible energy transition by listening to our neighbors, collaborating with labor, and delivering benefits for all New Yorkers.”

Rise Light & Power owns and operates New York City’s largest fossil power plant, the Ravenswood Generating Station, which provides 20% of the City’s generating capacity.  In July 2022, Rise published a comprehensive redevelopment plan called Renewable Ravenswood, which seeks to transition Ravenswood into a state-of-the-art clean energy hub using a variety of renewable energy technologies including offshore wind.  

Rise submitted this Article VII application in December 2022, after completing 255 miles of geophysical surveys in New York Harbor to determine the safest and most efficient location for buried, underwater, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cables. Multiple sets of these cables will bring up to 2.6 GW of offshore wind power from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Verrazzano Narrows, Upper New York Bay, and East River to the Ravenswood site. This approach avoids any impacts to beaches, public streets, or other private property, while also leveraging existing energy infrastructure at Ravenswood to lower costs and improve efficiency. Also in December 2022, Rise acquired an interest in the 1.4 gigawatt Attentive Energy One offshore wind project.

The Article VII permit is a key step towards Renewable Ravenswood, unlocking the delivery of clean energy and numerous other economic and environmental benefits. Offshore Wind, as part of the Renewable Ravenswood vision, has numerous benefits to New Yorkers, including:

Retirement of Fossil Generation

Offshore wind power, delivered directly into New York City, can replace existing fossil fuel generation and reduce the city’s emissions. The first offshore wind project interconnecting at Ravenswood will permanently retire an operating fossil-fired generator and replace its output with renewable energy from offshore wind.

Creation of Permanent Jobs

The Renewable Ravenswood plan also includes a new multi-story industrial building that contains a permanent offshore wind operations and maintenance hub, including control rooms, training facilities, and warehousing. The addition of the operations and maintenance hub at Ravenswood reactivates a portion of New York’s industrial waterfront, providing new, high-quality union jobs that will allow members of the UWUA Local 1-2 to continue powering New York.

New Onshore Clean Energy Hub (Illustrative concept only):This figure illustrates a preliminary design concept that illustrates the largest necessary volume that could be required.  More detailed architectural and design elements will occur in the future as the project progresses, and changes to the illustrative concept are expected. 

Job Training and Workforce Development

Rise and its partners will invest in local job training for its existing union workforce, members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, while also investing in a pipeline of workers from nearby disadvantaged communities to operate the offshore wind industry in the years ahead.

Cost Effectiveness and Ratepayer Protections

By repurposing existing power infrastructure, reducing the need for expensive transmission upgrades, and bundling multiple cables into one corridor, this offers New York a highly cost-effective offshore wind interconnection solution.

Reuse of Industrial Land to Preserve Public Space

All new onshore infrastructure will be located on existing industrial real estate. Unlike almost every other offshore wind farm in the United States, as well as other proposed cable landings in New York, this project will not require disturbances to public beaches, nor will it require the disturbance of land outside of the existing Ravenswood site.

Community Involvement

Rise Light & Power maintains a commitment to transparent and accessible community engagement, engaging with over 600 individuals last summer and fall in interactive forums. Rise will host additional forums in the coming months to share project updates and receive feedback from community members, environmental advocates, labor leaders, elected officials, and local organizations. In addition to forums hosted by Rise Light & Power, the Department of Public Service is expected to facilitate Public Information Sessions and Public Statement Hearings this summer.

Today’s milestone, and the continuing progress of the Renewable Ravenswood plan, drew broad support from across the City and State:

“Achieving climate justice lies in making the investments to create impactful renewable energy projects,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. “I am extremely excited by Renewable Ravenswood plan to transition New York City’s largest fossil fuel burning generating facility to renewable energy. This project can set a national precedent as the first renewable repowering of a fossil burning generator. Ravenswood Generating Station becoming ‘Renewable Ravenswood’ means supporting our climate goals with a new clean energy operations and maintenance hub for offshore wind, generating new green union jobs, and benefiting frontline environmental justice communities from Queensbridge to Ravenswood and beyond. This new offshore wind and land-based renewable energy project will not only sustainably power our communities but also lower energy costs and create more jobs for working families here in Queens and upstate New York.”

“Congratulations to Rise Light & Power, whose achievement today puts us one step closer to meeting our State’s renewable energy targets and one step closer to bringing clean air, affordable energy, and high-quality union jobs to this community for generations to come,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.

“I am very pleased to see Renewable Ravenswood taking this significant step toward becoming a reality,” said State Senator Liz Krueger. “This project will have a significant positive impact on the air my constituents breathe and the climate we all share, and it demonstrates the kind of across-the-board wins that are possible when New York State embraces the transition to a decarbonized future.”

“Today’s announcement is a great step toward bringing green union jobs and investments to this historically marginalized environmental justice community,” said Council Member Julie Won. “We need to continue to invest in renewable energy in our city that will continue to lower harmful emissions, provide sustainable power, and bring us one step closer to our long term environmental goals.”

“This permitting milestone represents significant progress in the journey towards a cleaner, greener future,” said Chair of the New York City Council Energy Committee James Gennaro.  “Rise Light & Power is at the forefront of transforming New York City’s largest power plant into a state-of-the-art clean energy hub, and today brings us ever closer to that goal. We applaud Rise Light & Power’s dedication to environmental stewardship and forward-thinking initiatives as they pave the way to a more sustainable energy landscape.”

“For the future of our city and the health of our planet, it is vital that we get clean energy production facilities online, swiftly and at scale,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán. “I applaud this advancement of the vision for a fully renewable NYC and am excited for the further steps toward a fossil-free future that it will make possible.”

“UWUA Local 1-2 members have kept the lights on in New York for 60 years. That passion and commitment deserves the kind of respect and acknowledgement that Rise Light & Power will deliver,” said James Slevin, President of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA). “As the Renewable Ravenswood vision becomes reality, we are proud our members will be the first conventional power plant workers in the United States to retrain to operate and maintain an offshore wind project. There’s nobody better to power this groundbreaking new project.”

“Renewable Ravenswood reflects the need to undertake a just transition as we move to clean energy,” said James Shillito, President of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2. “We are off to a great start with Rise Light & Power’s progress on developing clean energy transmission and look forward to upskilling our members and ensure our workers who keep New York City’s lights on aren’t left in the dark. These are the first steps to advance the Renewable Ravenswood vision, which will create even more opportunities for organized labor.”

“There is no clean energy transition without transmission and this milestone shows a true commitment by Rise Light & Power and New York State to replace aging fossil fuel generators in Western Queens and to deliver gigawatts of offshore wind power to New York City,” said Julie Tighe, President of New York League of Conservation Voters. “The Renewable Ravenswood plan is the perfect example of how building our green economy goes hand-in-hand with advancing environmental justice.”

“New York has been a leader on fighting climate change and protecting our residents and businesses by transitioning from fossil fuel power generation to clean, renewable sources,” said NYC Chief Climate Officer Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Not only does today’s announcement bring us an important step closer to making offshore wind power a reality in New York City, it continues the momentum for a strong statewide program and the promise of cleaner, healthier air in Western Queens.”

“This milestone is a meaningful step towards completing our strategy to ensure a just energy transition for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “The City is  focused on helping repurpose aging power plants that have burdened disadvantaged communities into renewable energy projects and economic hubs that deliver meaningful benefits to our frontline communities.”

“The renewable repowering of the Ravenswood site in Long Island City will play an integral role in advancing New York City’s just transition to a clean energy future and establishing the city as a national hub for the offshore industry,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We congratulate the Rise Light & Power team on its progress towards transforming a major fossil-fuel plant into a clean energy hub and empowering the existing workforce in the community to be part of the opportunities the green economy presents.”

“Today we are one step closer to the transformation of the Ravenswood Generating Station that public housing families in Western Queens have long awaited,” said Bishop Mitchell Taylor, CEO of Urban Upbound. “We applaud New York State and Rise Light & Power for their tireless work advancing this critical project. Our community deserves cleaner air and environmental justice, and we will continue to fight for the Renewable Ravenswood vision until it is a reality.”

“When it comes to environmental justice, it doesn’t get much better than replacing fossil fuel generators with wind power,” said Corinne Haynes, President of Queensbridge Houses Residents Association. “Queensbridge, the largest public housing development in the United States, was built more than 20 years before the power plant. After decades of living on the front lines, we thank Rise Light & Power for their proposal to clean up our air and create good jobs for the local community.”

“This announcement is a breath of fresh air that Ravenswood has needed for a long time,” said Carol Wilkins, President of Ravenswood Houses Residents Association. “My neighbors and I appreciate the commitment that Rise Light & Power has shown to this neighborhood and welcome new clean energy to Queens!”

“Rise Light & Power shows up for our community time and time again,” said Nan McKie, President of Woodside Houses Residents Association. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this vision to become a reality and I am proud of the advocacy of my neighbors in Woodside to make this happen. Congratulations and let’s get to work.”

“My neighbors and I have advocated for years to turn Asthma Alley into Renewable Row,” said Costa Constantinides, Chief Executive Officer of Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens. “The decision by the NYS DPS to proceed with its review of this project is a watershed moment for environmental justice in Queens and beyond. I applaud everyone who pitched in to make this happen and look forward to the swift implementation of the entire Renewable Ravenswood vision.” 

“Long Island City is ready to welcome new offshore wind energy into our neighborhood,” said Laura Rothrock, President of Long Island City Partnership. “Complex infrastructure projects like Renewable Ravenswood require careful planning, and I am thrilled to see Rise Light & Power reach this important permitting milestone. We are excited to support their work in building the green economy right here in Western Queens.” 

“Renewable Ravenswood is a futureproof investment in New York’s power grid,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President & CEO of the New York Building Congress. “Leveraging existing infrastructure like Ravenswood to deliver offshore wind energy to our homes and businesses is a smart, low-risk, and affordable way to tackle the climate crisis while providing high-quality union jobs.” 

“Renewable Ravenswood marks a significant leap forward in building healthier, more sustainable communities in New York. By shifting from fossil fuels to wind power, Renewable Ravenswood is not only advancing New York’s climate goals but also bringing about profound environmental justice victories for public housing residents,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki. “This transition promises to substantially reduce carbon emissions, which is crucial for the well-being of NYCHA residents especially in Western Queens. Furthermore, the plan’s commitment to economic opportunities is unprecedented, offering public housing residents a unique chance to be at the forefront of the green economy. Renewable Ravenswood is a transformative initiative that empowers and uplifts NYCHA residents by providing them with sustainable, long-term economic prospects, and will improve long-term health for public housing residents and all New Yorkers.”

“Clean energy in Astoria and in Long Island City is a commitment to a sustainable future and an investment in public health,” said Dr. Cameron R. Hernandez, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Mount Sinai Queens. “Reducing the use of traditional energy sources helps combat climate change and ensures cleaner air in the community, ultimately reducing respiratory illnesses and contributing to a healthier neighborhood for generations to come.”

“Projects like Renewable Ravenswood are critical to reach New York State’s aggressive climate goals,” said Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College. “They also provide tremendous economic opportunities for New Yorkers to access high-quality green jobs; public colleges like LaGuardia will play a critical role in creating and shaping new green energy curricula with certification programs. With this project, the Western Queens community will have access to opportunities and resources providing STEM education, workforce skills training, and referral services to build a pipeline of candidates from disadvantaged communities towards long-term careers in offshore wind and renewable energy. It’s a project that meets the needs of our community and our environment.”

About New York State’s Article VII Process

Article VII establishes a comprehensive, state-level siting process for the construction and operation of major transmission infrastructure in New York. The process is overseen by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC regulates electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water corporations in the state and reviews transmission projects to assess their environmental impacts and determine their purpose and need. Article VII requires a complete review of a project’s location, design, construction, and operation within New York State. You can find out more about the Article VII process on the New York Department of Public Service’s website.

To monitor the Article VII proceeding for the project, members of the public may visit the PSC’s website at www.dps.ny.gov, go to “Search”, and enter case number 22-T-0670 to navigate to the case file. Click the “Subscribe to Service List” button in the upper right of the page. Subscribers will receive email notifications when a filing is posted. Once the Article VII proceeding has begun and the project’s application is determined complete, members of the public will be given the opportunity to provide comments on the application. The PSC will provide advance notice of such opportunities, including public statement hearings and a written public comment period once they have been scheduled.

The public can also stay up to date on engagement opportunities and project information by visiting the project website, QueensboroRenewableExpress.com

About Rise Light & Power
Rise Light & Power is a Queens, New York based energy asset manager and developer, and is actively transforming its core asset, Long Island City’s Ravenswood Generating Station, into a new clean energy hub Renewable Ravenswood. By redeveloping New York City’s largest power generating facility, Rise will permanently replace fossil fuel power with homegrown renewable energy, while providing a just transition for its existing union workforce and economic opportunities for surrounding communities. Renewable Ravenswood is at the forefront of the ambitious clean energy transition taking place in New York State and will continue to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity for New York City for decades to come. Rise Light & Power is a wholly owned affiliate of LS Power.  

Press Contact: Ben Branham ben@pythiapublic.com

About Rise Light & Power

Rise Light & Power is a New York City based energy asset manager and developer, and is actively transforming its core asset, the Ravenswood Generating Station, into a new clean energy hub. By redeveloping New York City’s largest power generating facility, Rise will permanently replace fossil fuel power with renewable energy, while providing a just transition for its existing union workforce and economic opportunities for surrounding communities. Renewable Ravenswood, core to Rise’s growth-oriented strategy, is at the forefront of the ambitious clean energy transition taking place in New York State and will continue to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity for New York City for decades to come. Rise Light & Power is a wholly owned affiliate of LS Power. For more information, please visitwww.riselight.com.

Rise Light & Power Hosts Western Queens Community for First Annual Earth Day Picnic in the Park 

Families commemorate Earth Day in Queensbridge Park, enjoying locally-sourced food and activities promoting sustainability mere steps from power plant on cusp of transformation

Environmental justice advocates, elected officials, and community leaders celebrate Renewable Ravenswood plan to transform city’s largest fossil fuel power plant into clean energy hub 

A key component of New York State’s effort to achieve nation-leading goals for renewable energy, Renewable Ravenswood seeks environmental justice for local community, including country’s largest public housing complex

QUEENS, NY (April 22, 2024) – With Earth Day falling on the first day of Spring Break for New York City public schools – let alone a day with picture-perfect weather, western Queens families flocked to Queensbridge Park on Monday for the first annual Earth Day Picnic in the Park, celebrating plans to transform New York City’s largest fossil-fuel power plant into a clean energy hub. Hosted by Rise Light & Power, in partnership with Variety Boys & Girls Club, Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, Urban Upbound, HANAC, and elected officials including Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Deputy Borough President Ebony Young, and Council Member Julie Won, the festival took place just to the south of the Ravenswood Generating Station, whose generators would be replaced with offshore wind power, battery storage facilities, and connection points for upstate renewable energy under the Renewable Ravenswood plan – a flagship component of advancing New York State’s nation-leading climate goals.

The event featured sound engineering by Ravenswood’s own James Barber; food service provided by Kelston Bascom of Richmond Hill; and equipment rental by Ozone Park’s High Profile Sounds & Events. Activities included climate/energy education, kids’ art stations with printmaking with a local printmaker, wildflower seed art making, conga lessons, and a circus workshop offering lessons in juggling and tumbling. Children made signs with thematic messages such as “Clean energy belongs in Queens, because it’s good by all means!”

As part of the program, local leaders thanked Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for their support of Renewable Ravenswood and encouraged the administration to take concrete actions in the next year to advance the plan, which will create a clean energy hub, reactivate a portion of New York’s industrial waterfront, and deliver a just transition for members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 workforce.

“Today’s Ravenswood Earth Day Family Festival kicks off a new tradition for Western Queens and is a symbol of the support for the transformative nature of Renewable Ravenswood,” said Clint Plummer, CEO, Rise Light & Power. “Earth Day is a time to remember that we only have one home and that we need to be good stewards of it. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, NYSERDA, and the elected officials and organizations in our Western Queens community who are partners in our vision. We must all hold each other accountable for the tangible steps forward that are imperative for a responsible and just clean energy transition.”

“This Earth Day we celebrate the promise and potential of Renewable Ravenswood,” said Costa Constantinides, CEO Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, who also served as the unofficial emcee for the event. “Western Queens has too long been the home to fossil fuel infrastructure polluting the lungs of our residents. We have tired of the asthma alley where our kids travel to the hospital for respiratory illness more than the Queensboro average. The time is now to replace asthma alley with renewable row! Renewable Ravenswood shutters fossil fuel infrastructure and replaces it with good jobs, investment in our community and clean air.  We thank Governor Hochul for her work so far and urge her to cut through the governmental bureaucracy to ensure this project becomes a reality.” 

“With America’s first renewable repowering of a fossil fuel power plant taking place right here in Long Island City, we are making history, and that is worthy of a celebration, particularly on Earth Day,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. “I am pleased that the First Annual Renewable Ravenswood Earth Day event will be the first of many – and we will keep coming back until the job is done. No hurdle is too high in the fight for clean air and environmental justice.”

“Renewable Ravenswood is especially meaningful for our communities in Astoria, who have dealt with some of the highest asthma rates in the city and who eagerly look forward to cleaner air and more affordable energy,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Rise Light & Power’s projects will phase out fossil fuel generation and create green, union jobs while transitioning the city to renewable energy. I look forward to partnering with Governor Hochul and NYSERDA to make this project a reality, and hope that Queens can serve as an example of similar projects we can develop nationwide.”

“This Earth Day, we all must recommit to the work of building a greener, more sustainable Queens,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Thank you to Rise Light & Power for hosting today’s inaugural Earth Day Picnic, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we right the historic environmental wrongs of the past and ensure that Western Queens families have a cleaner community to call home.”

“This Earth Day, we’re celebrating a greener future for our neighbors at Ravenswood and Queensbridge. This move toward a more Renewable Ravenswood will have far-reaching impacts by creating cleaner air and green union jobs,” said Council Member Julie Won. “New York must continue investing in renewable energy in our city to lower harmful emissions, provide sustainable power, and bring us one step closer to our long-term environmental goals.”

In July 2022, Rise published its comprehensive redevelopment plan for Renewable Ravenswood which encompasses the five core components of 1) Offshore Wind, 2) Upstate Renewables, 3) Clean Thermal Energy, 4) Energy Storage and 5) Just Transition. Renewable Ravenswood is a community-driven and community-supported plan, developed over time with thorough feedback from the public, including immersive engagement activities hosted in partnership with Hester Street in summer 2023 that reached more than 600 individuals. 

New York State’s Climate Act has set nation-leading goals for achieving 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030 and a zero-emission electric grid by 2040.

“Western Queens deserves the transformative benefits that Renewable Ravenswood will deliver,” said Bishop Mitchell Taylor, CEO of Urban Upbound. “This Earth Day and beyond, we applaud the progress cemented by Governor Hochul and ask for her leadership to help us clean up our air, create a new green economy, and deliver the environmental justice we have so patiently awaited.”

“All of us at Riis Settlement are thrilled to participate in this year’s Earth Day Celebration in beautiful Queensbridge Park,” said Chris Hanway, Executive Director, Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement. “Renewable Ravenswood is and will be a game-changing project, positively impacting the environment in Queensbridge, Ravenswood, LIC and beyond, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

“When it comes to environmental justice, it doesn’t get much better than replacing fossil fuel generators with wind power,” said Corinne Haynes, President of Queensbridge Houses Residents Association. “Queensbridge, the largest public housing development in the United States, was built more than 20 years before the power plant. After decades of living on the front lines, we thank Rise Light & Power for their vision and cheer on the administration of Governor Kathy Hochul as they partner on this generational project.”

“The Astoria Houses community looks forward to the Renewable Ravenswood plan,” said Vanessa Jones-Hall, Astoria Houses TA President. “In the past couple decades, Astoria Houses residents have seen a rise in life threatening health issues and felt the impact on their quality of life due to fossil fuels. We support the movement toward this green initiative.”

“Let’s leave the planet in the working order we found it in,” said Noel Merritt of Queensbridge Houses. “We owe it to future generations to leave the planet functioning properly. We have to be on the front line sustaining a living environment. “

“Thank God this year we have the promise that we can say goodbye to NYC’s largest fossil fuel power station right here in our backyard,” said Jean Tomasulo, Ravenswood resident. “This Earth Day we have a reason to celebrate as we welcome the promise of a Renewable Energy Station thanks to Governor Hochul’s promise.”

“This Earth Day, it’s time to invest in people and planet alike, which is exactly what Renewable Ravenswood proposes,” said Jim Shillitto, President of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2. “Our skilled utility workers are ready and excited to retrain for the green energy jobs of the future. Now more than ever, we need to speed up approval and deployment of clean energy technologies to build the energy system that the next generation deserves.”

“This Earth Day, we celebrate the vision for a Renewable Ravenswood and applaud the leaders and project partners working to make it a reality,” said Julie Tighe, President of New York League of Conservation Voters. “As we are learning with the state’s offshore wind industry, achieving big things — and being the first to do so — is never easy; it requires patience and perseverance, but environmental justice and a just transition for union workers – which Ravenswood is poised to deliver on — is a non-negotiable component of our clean energy transition.”

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Contacts:
Ben Branham ben@pythiapublic.com

Lindsay Kryzak lk@clintonstreetstrategies.com 

About Rise Light & Power

Rise Light & Power is a New York City based energy asset manager and developer, and is actively transforming its core asset, the Ravenswood Generating Station, into a new clean energy hub. By redeveloping New York City’s largest power generating facility, Rise will permanently replace fossil fuel power with renewable energy, while providing a just transition for its existing union workforce and economic opportunities for surrounding communities. Renewable Ravenswood, core to Rise’s growth-oriented strategy, is at the forefront of the ambitious clean energy transition taking place in New York State and will continue to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity for New York City for decades to come. Rise Light & Power is a wholly owned affiliate of LS Power. For more information, please visitwww.riselight.com.