City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. led a rally last Saturday, October 3 against a proposed plan to put yet another power plant in Astoria that would make a total of seven power plants in Northwest Queens. Vallone, joined by other community leaders, decried a decision by the New York Power Authority to choose Astoria over many other locations. Vallone has called on the state to investigate the awarding of a contract for a 500-megawatt (MW) plant to Astoria Energy, LLC, a company whose past dealings with the government make its involvement particularly suspect, he claims. Vallone sent letters to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and plans to meet with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to discuss the decision. "Not only does this deal reek of smoke-filled, back-room politics, it will also make Northwest Queens reek of smoke as well," Vallone said. "This decision reaches well beyond the bounds of good sense and fairness, and I believe that always suggests [that] foul play may be involved." More...