Vocal powerhouse Emilie Surtees to bring soul,
passion and energy to Flushing Town Hall
BY BILL PARRY
New York state energy regulators
gave the green light to
Con Edison and partner 174
Power Global to construct a
large battery system in Astoria
at the site of the old Charles
Poletti fossil fuel plant near
the East River.
The approval granted by
the state Public Service Commission
is an important step
in the development of the East
River Storage System, which
will be able to store and discharge
100 megawatts, or 100
million watts, of electricity
— enough to run 100,000 hair
dryers or as many as 1 million
desktop computers. The
system will be able to store
enough electricity to power
One World Trade for about a
day.
“Battery storage is essential
to our quest to create a
clean energy future and prevail
against climate change,”
said Leonard Singh, senior
vice president of Customer Energy
Solutions at Con Edison.
“Bulk storage will let us bring
large amounts of renewable
energy to our customers without
compromising our industry
leading reliability, even as
fossil fuel generators in New
York City are shuttered into
retirement.”
Batteries make it possible
to store energy created
by renewable resources and
provide that energy to customers
when they need it.
Utility-scale battery storage
will grow in importance with
the planned addition of large
amounts of renewable energy
in New York state, including
9,000 megawatts from offshore
wind turbines.
Battery technology is an
important part of the city and
state’s environmental plans,
which Con Edison supports.
Con Edison seeks to offer
customers 100 percent clean
power by 2040, an achievement
that would mean a dramatic
improvement in air quality
and public health.
174 Power Global, which
specializes in renewable energy
TIMESLEDGER | Q 10 NS.COM | JULY 23-JULY 29, 2021
projects, will build the battery
system by the end of 2011
and own it.
“Energy storage technology
has emerged as an essential
component of the energy
landscape and the proliferation
of energy storage projects
in New York is critical to
meeting the state’s ambitious
climate change goals,” 174
Power Global President and
CEO Henry Yun said. “We’re
pleased to receive approval
from the PSC and are one step
closer to bringing clean power,
as well as other regional electricity
and economic benefits,
to the Astoria community and
state.”
The batteries will draw
power from the grid at times
when the demand for power is
low and less expensive. They
will discharge that power at
times when the demand for
power is high, decreasing the
need for power from fossil fuelfired
plants.
The companies have a seven
year contract under which
Con Edison will bid power
from the battery system into
the state’ wholesale market.
At the end of the contract, 174
Power Global will dispatch
the power into the state’s bulk
power transmission system.
The PSC’s approval of this
adaptive reuse project on NYPA’s
site in Astoria is a big win
for New York state and specifically
the Queens community,
and demonstrates an important
step towards achieving
our ambitious clean energy
goals,” said Gil C. Quinnes,
NYPA President and CEO.
“Large-scale battery storage
provides the opportunity for
greater flexibility and resilience
of the electric grid and
will support the growth of renewable
energy for decades to
come.”
The batteries will connect
to a nearby Con Edison substation.
The batteries will be
in containers and produce no
emissions and little noise at
the industrial site.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schneps
media.com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Get ready to rock when
vocal powerhouse Emilie
Surtees brings her contagiously
energetic array of
tunes and classic jams to
Flushing Town Hall at 7 p.m.
on Friday, July 30.
The Emilie Surtees Experience
Band will perform
“Proud Mary”– Rock & Roll
Ladies in a hybrid performance
for audiences, who
will have the opportunity
to watch either in person or
online.
For music lovers who have
craved the return of concertgoing
experiences, this show
is a must-attend.
As an experienced singer
with a range of vocal depth,
Surtees’ music will leave you
breathless. The New York
City-based artist has the ability
to sing softly and calmly,
then impress with her quick
transition to powerful vocals.
Influenced by 1960s and
’70s soul, R&B and pop, as well
as by contemporary singers,
Surtees performs her music
with passion and conviction.
Her upbeat, soul-stirring
tribute shows have gained
wide popularity across the
tri-state area, where she has
performed at such renowned
venues as The Highline Ballroom,
City Vineyard and B.B.
King’s Blues Club.
Ellen Kodadek, executive
and artistic director of Flushing
Town Hall, said they’re
excited to bring Surtees’
talent to the venue.
“It has been such a difficult
and somber period
amidst the pandemic. I can
think of no greater way to
give our audiences some
much-needed joy and release
than with a fun, rock ‘n’ roll
concert,” Kodadek said.
Surtees will cover songs
by some of the great women
who rock, including Tina
Turner, Stevie Nicks and
Heart. Fans can look forward
to belting along to hits like
“What’s Love Got To Do With
It,” “Go Your Own Way” and
“If Looks Could Kill.”
“After an incredulous
year-and-a-half of challenges
and inspirations, I feel truly
blessed and elated to perform
great music by iconic female
rock ‘n’ roll artists. Tina
Turner, Nancy and Ann Wilson,
and Stevie Nicks have all
penned and performed songs
that not only aptly describe
love in all its turmoil and
glory, but songs that let us
know we’re not alone on our
journey,” Surtees said. “I look
forward to seeing audiences
again and to hearing them
sing loud and proud along
with our band!”
The concert will be performed
for a limited capacity
audience to ensure the safety
of attendees, performers and
staff. In-person audiences
will be required to wear
masks and adhere to social
distancing guidelines.
To honor Flushing Town
Hall’s 42nd anniversary, the
venue is offering 42 in-person
tickets. Unlimited virtual
tickets will also be available
for guests to tune in online
for the live stream.
For more information
or to purchase tickets, visit
flushingtownhall.org/emiliesurtees.
New York City-based artist Emilie Surtees
Photo by Maria Passannante-derr
State regulators approved a Con Edison plan to build a large
battery storage project in Astoria like this one in Ozone Park.
Photo by Willie Davis/Con Edison
State approves plan for
Astoria clean energy hub
/NS.COM
/media.com
link
