As it moves forward with a plan to expand its power plant on the East Shore, PSEG has agreed to give the city half a million dollars to clean the air.
Rob Smuts, the city’s chief administrative officer, made that announcement Monday night at a community forum hosted by environmental groups at the Nathan Hale School. The forum was held to discuss Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)‘s proposed expansion of the Harbor Station Power Plant at 1 Waterfront St.
Smuts said details of a deal with PSEG are not yet final, but the New Jersey utility giant has agreed to give the city $500,000 to reduce soot from garbage trucks, diesel equipment, and sources at the harbor.
PSEG already owns the aging Harbor Station power plant, and received permission from the state Department of Utility Control to erect three smaller “peaker” generators to be used when the regional electrical grid needs extra power.
The peaker stations will be powered by turbines fired by natural gas.
In general, Smuts and the environmentalists welcomed the use of cleaner, modern technology instead of the dirty old turbine that sits there. But they sought to ensure that any development results in a net improvement to the air.
PSEG spokesman Michael Jennings said Tuesday that the company expects the community benefits agreement to be finalized soon. Until then, Jennings said the company would not comment on details. “We expect (the agreement) will protect the East Shore environment,” he said.
The discussions are part of the state’s new Environmental Justice law. The law requires the company to “consult with” the city on whether a community benefits agreement is needed, but does not require the company to agree to one.
The developing agreement would require Harbor Station to use a combination of gas and oil to generate steam on days with excessive levels of particulates and ozone. Generally, the smaller plants should emit less particulate matter than Harbor Station, while generating the same megawattage, according to the panel at the forum.
The panel included Smuts, Rep. Robert Megna (D‑97), and members environmental justice groups.
Unlike a vociferous meeting in August between PSEG and East Shore residents, company representatives did not attend Monday’s briefing, which was intended to update the community on negotiations between PSEG and New Haven.
“You definitely don’t need more air pollution here,” said Roger Reynolds (pictured), attorney for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment. New Haven and most of Connecticut surpasses the federal limits for tiny soot particles on many days during the summer and winter, when electrical demand is high.
The particles in question are small enough to reach the deepest recesses of the lungs, and into the bloodstream. Particulates are known to aggravate asthma, other chronic pulmonary obstructive diseases, and heart disease. High ozone levels can cause permanent lung damage.
“Any community benefits agreement must yield better air quality,” Reynolds said.
He said an agreement is taking shape, “but it’s not an agreement yet.”
Other provisions of the agreement would reduce Harbor Station’s minimum run time from 14 to 12 hours. The main plant would also reduce its output by 4 megawatts for each peaker plant operating.
“Will this result in a reduction of air pollution? On average this would lead to pretty good air improvements, but no one knows what will happen,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said that the agreement must also hold PSEG accountable for its effects on air quality. The company would also be required to meet periodically with the community and reveal how much gas and oil has been burned.
“We were surprised by how seriously PSEG took our issues. They knew we are not afraid to litigate,” Smuts said, referring to previous disputes involving English Station and the Cross Sound Cable (which was powered up against the state’s wishes).
An audience member asked why the peaker plants need to be installed in New Haven.
“The point is that this agreement would reduce total emissions,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, founder and president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice.
In the future, Mitchell, Reynolds and Smuts said, the DPUC must be included in the Environmental Justice Law to prevent the commission from siting power plants in environmental justice communities, which are defined by income and other socio-economic factors.
New Haven is one of 59 environmental justice communities in Connecticut.
This is awful. The environmentalists are being sold out by a clever Mr. Smuts who is greenwashing this proposal so that the City can get a quick influx of cash. Ask Mr.Smuts how much the City stands to gain by allowing this awful use in its backyard? I can't believe that the EJ community is getting bought off this easy... where are all those Fair Haven advocates now? Where is Ed Grant and Lynne Bonnett? Where are our "green alders" Roland Lamar and Erin Pascale Sturgis? This is a terrible development for the East Shore and its plain to see why the real environmentalists in this City are not signing on to support Mr. Smuts and his "deal"