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One of Long Island's biggest, oldest power plants has got a new lease on life, after the Department of Environmental Conservation agreed to grant it a new permit.
The Long Island Power Authority, National Grid and state regulators have reached an agreement to install technology at the Port Jefferson Power Plant designed to protect fish, while saving $100 million or more over other alternatives.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on June 15 agreed to grant a permit for the 350-megawatt power plant, as long as National Grid installs nets and variable speed pumps to protect fish.
The technology, expected to cost $15 million to $20 million, is far cheaper than cooling towers that the DEC earlier had said it favored for larger power plants, potentially forcing older generators to close.
The public has 30 days to comment on or challenge the DEC's decision regarding the five-year permit for the Port Jefferson plant, built in the 1960s.
"What we ended up with is a very good solution at a very modest cost," said Bob Teetz, National Grid's vice president of environmental services.
He said LIPA would reimburse National Grid for costs related to the...