Queens Gazette

‘Shut Down Big Allis!’


Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney joined with NYCHA Resident Association leadership and community leaders including Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, Senior Pastor of Center of Hope, and CEO of Urban Upbound, to renew their call for NYSERDA to shut down “Big Allis” – the largest smokestack at Ravenswood Generating Station, and the most polluting power plant in the state of New York.

On September 25, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) joined with NYCHA Resident Association leadership and community leaders to renew their call for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to shut down the peaker power plant known as “Big Allis” – the largest smokestack on site at Ravenswood Generating Station, which is the most polluting power plant in the state of New York.

Earlier this year, Rise Light & Power, the company that operates Big Allis, submitted a renewable replacement proposal to NYSERDA that would make all outputs from the plant renewable by 2026. Governor Hochul just announced two green energy infrastructure projects to power New York City with wind, solar, and hydropower projects from upstate New York and Canada. Neither of these projects include shutting down Big Allis.

Often called “Asthma Alley,” Western Queens is home to frontline communities that are disproportionately burdened by pollution from power plants that operate during times of peak electricity demand. These plants are less efficient than other sources and emit more toxins, demonstrating the need for the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative and high-impact solutions at the federal, state, and local levels.

In a letter to NYSERDA, Congresswoman Maloney explained: “Big Allis is the largest smokestack on site at Ravenswood Generating Station, which is the most polluting power plant in the state of New York. It is also located across from Queensbridge Houses, which is the largest public housing development in the United States. This area is frequently referred to as Asthma Alley. […] Our communities and our environment cannot afford to pass up this opportunity to address the dangers of Big Allis. It is absolutely unthinkable that people are dying in Asthma Alley, and existing proposals that could fix this were not selected. Our constituents deserve clean air, and this Board can help deliver it. We cannot afford anything less.”

“Power plant pollution has affected our lives and wellness over years,” said Stephanie Chauncey, Queensbridge Residents Association, PSA9 President. “We need clean air, not just for our local communities, but for our state. We have prolonged this enough and we’re tired of this environmental injustice. Big Allis must come down. Together we will fight until the transition is done – our families’ lives depend on this transition. We will no longer tolerate environmental injustice.”

“They need to clean up our air. Cut out the dirty air and let’s get with sustainable energy,” said Carole Wilkins, President, Ravenswood Residents’ Association.

“It’s time to shut Big Allis down! We’ve tried to work with the power company to find a way to retire the peakers, and create clean, renewable energy. There was an opportunity, but once again, public housing residents were overlooked,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, Senior Pastor of Center of Hope, and CEO of Urban Upbound.

“Big Allis is the poster child for environmental racism as we know it,” said Julie Won, community leader. “For decades this plant has led to skyrocketing asthma rates and poorer health outcomes in the neighborhood. To allow Big Allis to remain open is reckless, negligent, and flies in the face of goals already set by the State to reduce carbon emissions and improve quality of life. NYSERDA must close Big Allis and unequivocally commit to the decarbonization of New York’s energy grid.”

In August 2021, Congresswoman Maloney was joined by members of the New York congressional delegation, members of the PEAK Coalition, community leaders, and impacted community members to unveil House Committee on Oversight and Reform environmental justice proposals to curb deadly pollution and direct federal resources to frontline communities. Later that day, Congresswoman Maloney joined with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) to host a roundtable with community representatives to hear about their experiences as members of frontline communities that have been disproportionately burdened by pollution from power plants. During the meeting, participants also discussed new environmental justice proposals that the House Oversight Committee will spearhead to curb deadly pollution and direct federal resources to the hardest-hit communities.

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