For Immediate Release:
October 6, 2003
For More Information Contact:
Joan Dougherty - (917) 971-6336 or
Edward Vale - (631) 334-8191
News Release
Mayor Bloomberg Proposes "New" Site For TGE
Power Plant
Brooklyn, NY - In legal papers filed last Monday, Mayor Bloomberg
announced the City would support TransGas Energy's (TGE) proposed power
plant if the project were relocated. The alternate site is at 400
Kingsland Avenue in Brooklyn, which is less than two miles from the
original location.
"This is really more a sleight of hand than anything new," said Joan
Dougherty of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Task Force, "all
they did is take the same plant and move it two miles, leaving the
community with identical health, pollution and environmental justice
problems."
Dougherty continued, "We have our experts studying the "new" site and
according to the City's documents there are major obstacles including:
- The site is contaminated with an oil spill larger than the Exxon Valdez;
- ExxonMobil never let the City enter the site and they only conducted a
'windshield study' of the environmental problems;
- the City does not have a firm commitment from ExxonMobil to sell the
site; and
- a significant amount of studies and analyses still need to be
performed."
Edward Vale of the PACE Energy Project said, "The best way to meet the
City's energy demands is through re-powering existing plants, investing
in renewable technologies and especially energy conservation."
Dougherty concluded, "I have spoken to many people in the neighborhood
and they feel let down by the Mayor. They believe he does not care
about Brooklyn because he wants to build this plant in an area that is
already overburdened by waste transfer stations, sewage treatment plants
and toxic contamination and has also closed the area's firehouse."
The Greenpoint/Williamsburg Waterfront Task Force (GWWTF) is a growing
coalition of over 90 community groups, civic groups, religious
organizations, businesses, schools and artists organized to stop the TGE
project. For more information and a list of member organizations go to:
www.stopthepowerplant.org
