STATEMENT OF BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ AT PUBLIC HEARING ON NYPA IN-CITY POWER

“I want to thank the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - and the people of Brooklyn - for the opportunity to participate in this public hearing on a matter that has vital significance to the residents of Brooklyn, and particularly to the community of Sunset Park. Let me get right to the point, I demand that you do not approve the Title V permit to increase pollution levels. A fossil fuel burning plant, no matter how cleanly and efficiently it is operated, contributes pollution to this neighborhood. This community already suffers an unacceptable environmental and health burden. You simply should not force people, who are incredibly worried about the air they breathe every day, to live next to a power plant. But it is incredible to expect them to accept worse standards than what were shoved down their throats only months before. In addition, there has been no proper environmental review, and the process that determined the location of these power plants was deeply flawed and even biased. All that would be more than enough to oppose this permit, but there is more. It is unconscionable in my mind to reward cheaters. That’s what you are asking us to do today. In 2002, NYPA polluted and ignored safety levels and were quietly fined. Now you are asking to simply make it legal for it to continue previously illegal polluting practices. That’s just not right. Enough is enough. Don’t ask us to accept worse standards than we already have.

“I would remind Governor Pataki that his reputation as a champion of the environment mandates the adoption of the country’s most vigorous energy conservation policies. The Governor must ask everyone to turn off the lights before he asks us to accept more pollution from Brooklyn’s power plants. While conservation can begin at home, there is also much to be done at the municipal level to save energy. The State must also increase the proportion and siting of renewable energy sources. How many fewer power plants would we need if the State and the City provided incentives for developers to build energy efficient buildings? How many fewer power plants would we need if solar energy were incorporated into all new municipal construction? Let’s hear more from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority about what they’ve been doing to promote energy conservation and efficiency. Let’s hear more about their research concerning alternative energy sources and how new measures can be implemented in New York City.

“We need more information. We are fully capable of understanding information about capacity, demand and projected demand. We want more information about energy demand and supply so that we – the people of Brooklyn - can work with the Governor on comprehensive planning and conservation efforts.”