A years-long push by Sen. Mario Mattera to slow New York’s aggressive climate mandates appears to be gaining traction as National Grid examines plans to modernize three major Long Island power plants with cleaner, more efficient natural gas technology.
The concept would involve replacing aging steam turbines in Northport, Port Jefferson, and Island Park with modern combined-cycle generators capable of producing more electricity while burning less fuel. The upgrades are expected to reduce emissions while improving grid reliability and lowering wholesale power costs.
For years, Mattera, the ranking member of the New York State Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, has warned that the aggressive mandates embedded in the state’s sweeping climate law—the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act—risk driving up costs and destabilizing the grid if reliable generation is retired too quickly.
“This is about making sure we’re spending ratepayers’ money properly,” Mattera said in an exclusive interview with the South Shore Press. “Rates are skyrocketing under an experiment that put all of the money into one basket—wind, solar, and battery storage. Obviously, they’re not enough to meet our energy needs.”
The senator has consistently argued that renewable energy alone cannot meet Long Island’s growing electricity demand without a foundation of dependable generation and upgraded infrastructure.
He has long advocated repowering existing facilities using natural gas technology paired with carbon-capture systems, a strategy he says would provide reliable electricity while lowering emissions compared with older plants.
Combined-cycle systems burn natural gas to spin a turbine and generate electricity. The hot exhaust from that process is then used to create steam, which spins a second turbine and produces even more power instead of letting the heat go to waste. Advanced scrubbers remove practically all of the greenhouse gases.
“I say retool our existing power plants with combined cycle and carbon capture,” he said. “That is the right way to go.”
National Grid operates the plants under contract with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which is responsible for overseeing Long Island’s electric system and evaluating options to meet future energy needs while maintaining affordability for ratepayers.
The renewed discussion about modernizing Long Island’s aging plants comes as the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind turbine projects were put on hold by the Trump administration, citing high costs and safety concerns. Recognizing the susceptibility of the grid, Gov. Hochul is touting nuclear energy, an energy source that comes with long lead times, high costs, and environmental opposition.