Breaking: Big Williamsburg Power Plant is Finally Dead

The big TransGas power plant proposed for a waterfront site between N. 12 & N. 14 Street in Williamsburg/Greenpoint is finally dead. The state Siting Board on Major Electric Generation Siting and the Environment rejected a proposal today to locate an 1,100 megawatt underground plant on the site. The plant had actually been killed in 2004, but came back as a revamped proposal for an underground facility. The city wants the site as part of a big 28-acre park around the Bushwick Inlet. Council Member David Yassky issued a statement calling it a rejection of an "inappropriate proposal" that clears the way "for the open space North Brooklyn so badly needs." Assem. Joe Lentol, meanwhile, who has proposed taking the eight acres of land via eminent domain for the park said, "I could not be more thrilled at this decision" and called the proposal "a travesty and a betrayal." While some of the land for the park has been assembled, signficant hurdles remain. More details and reaction to follow.