That colossal structure looming before you is Ravenswood Generating Station. For decades it has been a vital part of New York City’s energy landscape. Ravenswood Generating Station originally opened in 1963. It was built by Consolidated Edison. The first units Ravenswood 10 and 20 each generated around 385 megawatts.
Ravenswood’s history is fascinating. Initially fueled by coal it switched to fuel oil and natural gas in 1971. It almost had a very different beginning. In the early 1960s a proposal to build a massive 750 megawatt nuclear reactor on this very spot was put forward. Local opposition and safety concerns ultimately led to its cancellation. Can you imagine a nuclear power plant here instead?
The station expanded in 1965. Ravenswood 30 also known as Big Allis was commissioned. This unit significantly increased the plant’s capacity to nearly 981 megawatts. Big Allis even played a role in the Northeast blackout of 1965. Its bearings were damaged because the oil pumps relied on the plant’s own power which was lost during the outage.
Ownership of Ravenswood Generating Station changed hands multiple times. Deregulation of New York’s energy markets forced Con Edison to sell. KeySpan Energy acquired it in 1999. National Grid bought it later. TransCanada Corporation purchased Ravenswood in 2008 for a whopping $2.9 billion. It eventually became the property of LS Power/Helix Energy Solutions Group.
Today Ravenswood remains operational. It boasts a nameplate capacity of 2480 megawatts. It provides over 20 percent of the city’s energy needs. This power plant employs more than 100 people. It is crucial to New York City’s power grid. The plant has even proven its resilience. It reliably supplied up to 50 percent of the city’s energy during Hurricane Sandy.
Ravenswood continues to adapt. A significant investment is being made in battery storage technology. A 316 megawatt system is planned. It will be the largest in New York State. The transition to cleaner energy is underway. New York City’s future energy needs are being carefully considered here at Ravenswood. The plant’s history is interwoven with technological advancement and the city’s evolving energy demands. It is a truly impressive site to behold.