THE LUYSTER CREEK ENERGY PROJECT ... - Energy Highway

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A S T O R I A G E N E R A T I N G Tourism impacts There are no impacts on tourism. Aesthetic issues A visual impact assessment was conducted for the project and presented in the DEIS. In summary, the LCEP is consistent with the current uses of the site. The LCEP equipment will be consistent in appearance, scale, type and use with existing and similar industrial and energy-related structures in the immediate vicinity, therefore no significant visual impacts to identified resources will occur. In addition, design measures have been incorporated into the LCEP equipment to further reduce its visual impacts. Compatible colors will be used for the stack, tanks, and site buildings and landscaping and architectural treatments are being incorporated into the site design. Estimated impacts on real estate and property values See potential impacts on real estate and property values above. Environmental Justice considerations An analysis was prepared in accordance with the NYSDEC Commissioner Policy CP-29 providing guidance for incorporating Environmental Justice (EJ) concerns into NYS- DEC’s permitting process and was presented in the DEIS. The LCEP is not expected to contribute any additional environmental burden on the local potential environmental justice area (PEJA) and will not increase potential air contaminants due to operation of the LCEP and therefore will not contribute to the community’s air pollution burden. In fact, the LCEP will decrease the annual actual emissions now coming from the Astoria Facility, and therefore will reduce the contribution of the Astoria Facility on air quality impacts that may contribute to adverse environmental and health impacts. The Project will provide new, high efficiency, clean electric generation. In addition, a conservative air dispersion modeling analysis demonstrates that the air quality impacts resulting from the emissions of pollutants from the LCEP Equipment will be below their respective Significant Impact Levels (SILs). Impacts that are below SILs by definition will not cause or contribute to exceedences of ambient air quality standards. The consequences of the LCEP include modification of the Title V Air Permit for the existing Astoria Facility Units in order to retire existing Astoria Facility Unit 2 and implement enforceable emissions limits on the remaining Astoria Facility Units. There will be no significant noise, de minimis increases in traffic levels associated with project operations, and a visually sensitive design used in order to integrate the LCEP equipment with the surrounding landscape. The Site has been designed, structurally and visually, to ensure that construction and operation activities will accommodate and complement existing community plans and efforts Smart growth considerations The LCEP will support the Smart Growth principals in that it will reduce existing air emissions in the area while providing a new, clean economic and efficient source of electricity. It will also increase the reliability of electric supply to the local community and be designed to integrate into the current surroundings and incorporate other environmentally sensitive design considerations. THE LUYSTER CREEK ENERGY PROJECT MAY 30, 2012 13
A S T O R I A G E N E R A T I N G Financial (See Above) Environmental Environmental benefit to region When the LCEP commences commercial operation, it will result in an overall decrease in the emissions from the existing Astoria Facility which will be incorporated in the facility air permit. In real terms, because NYISO uses economic dispatch to schedule generation resources for operation and the LCEP equipment will be one of the most efficient and therefore lowest cost units, the LCEP equipment will be one of the first units to operate, resulting in reduced operation for other less efficient plants in the City. LCEP will displace the operation of other generating units in the system, including both the older units in the City (including the existing Astoria Facility units) and also existing combined cycle units which, even though more efficient than older steam generating units, are not as efficient as the LCEP equipment. This displacement will provide a tremendous environmental benefit in reduced air emissions resulting from the generation of electricity. In addition to the environmental benefit, the cost of production of electricity would be reduced due to the higher efficiency of the LCEP equipment. Projected reduction s in greenhouse gases The proposed technology for this project is the Siemens 8000H combustion turbine in a combined cycle mode. This is the most efficient technology available in the market and as a result will have the lowest heat rate and emissions of CO 2 per unit of power generated. Wetlands, streams, forests and other natural areas that would be disturbed by the project The project is being constructed on land that is an industrial site and already disturbed. Therefore the project will not impact wetlands, streams, forests and other natural areas. Environmental impacts of construction and operation Any impact associated with construction will be minimal and temporary and mainly confined to the site. Proposed mitigation measures In summary, the LCEP is an energy project that will add additional generating capacity to the Astoria Facility while reducing environmental impacts. AGC believes that a coordinated improvement of the Astoria Facility by the addition of new cleaner technology is the most beneficial way to plan for the increasing load requirements of the City and the eventual retirement of older generating units, while reducing the environmental impacts of the existing Astoria Facility Units 20, 30, 40, 50 and GT-1, associated ancillary/auxiliary equipment, and other displaced facilities. Operation of the LCEP will result in environmental benefits and improve system reliability. The LCEP will also advance, and is consistent with, the goals set forth in the Draft State Energy Plan with respect to assuring system reliability, replacement of older capacity, greenhouse gas reductions, reduced electric costs and environmental improvements. THE LUYSTER CREEK ENERGY PROJECT MAY 30, 2012 14
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