# Eugene W. Zeltmann Power Project

NYISO power_plant · https://askthegrid.com/nyiso/assets/plant/eugene-w-zeltmann-power-project

The Eugene W. Zeltmann Power Project is a 576 MW natural-gas-fired combined-cycle power plant owned and operated by the New York Power Authority in Astoria, Queens. The plant entered commercial service in December 2005 on a 7-acre portion of NYPA's larger Poletti site, adjacent to the Charles Poletti Power Plant. It comprises three natural-gas-fired generators: CA01 (188 MW combined-cycle steam part) and two combustion-turbine units, CT01 and CT02 (170 MW each). The plant is capable of operating on natural gas or ultra-low-sulfur distillate fuel oil backup. As of August–November 2025, the three-unit facility generated 556.3 GWh over a three-month period, ranking #15 among New York power plants by annual net electricity generation. The plant serves New York City governmental customers—including schools, hospitals, public buildings, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority—while selling additional power into the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) wholesale market. It interconnects at the Astoria West 138 kV substation operated by Consolidated Edison.

## Key facts

- Technology: Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle
- Power capacity: 528 MW

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: NYISO
- Balancing authority: NYISO

## Source-backed facts

- Location.county: Queens County, New York — nypa.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.nameplate capacity mw: 576 MW — nypa.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.ferc generator sum mw: 528 MW — mbrweb.ferc.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.commercial operation date: December 31, 2005 (specifically); December 2005 (official NYPA record) — nypa.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.interconnection.voltage kv: 138 kV — climate.ny.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.operations.generation 2020 gwh: 2528.8 GWh — nypa.gov · confidence: review_required
- Asset.financing.slattery skanska contract usd: 242100000 USD — enr.com · confidence: review_required

## Timeline

- 1974 — NYPA acquires Poletti plant site
  NYPA purchased the existing Charles Poletti Power Plant (then known as Astoria 6) from Consolidated Edison while it was still under construction. This transaction involved the pre-existing Poletti facility and site, not the later Zeltmann project.
  Source: powermag.com (https://www.powermag.com/nypa-astoria-project-astoria-new-york/)
- 1977 — Charles Poletti Power Plant enters commercial service
  The adjacent Charles Poletti Power Plant (885 MW, NYPA-owned) entered commercial operation.
  Source: powermag.com (https://www.powermag.com/nypa-astoria-project-astoria-new-york/)
- 2004-05-31 — Project cost escalation identified
  A New York State comptroller audit reported that NYPA's project cost estimate had risen from an initial $375 million to $650 million. Slattery Skanska was reported to be building the plant under a $242.1 million construction contract.
  Source: enr.com (https://www.enr.com/articles/35365-power-authority-seeks-new-sources-while-building-own)
- 2005-12-31 — Zeltmann project enters commercial operation
  The approximately 500 MW NYPA Astoria combined-cycle plant (Eugene W. Zeltmann Power Project) entered commercial service on December 31, 2005. NYPA's official facility page gives the less specific date of December 2005.
  Source: powermag.com (https://www.powermag.com/nypa-astoria-project-astoria-new-york/)

## Sources

- [climate.ny.gov](https://climate.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Climate/Files/JTWG-Power-Plant-Inventory.pdf) — climate.ny.gov · tier authoritative
- [mbrweb.ferc.gov](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/SearchlkpEIA/Index?page=295) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier authoritative
- [enr.com](https://www.enr.com/articles/35365-power-authority-seeks-new-sources-while-building-own) — enr.com · tier public_source
- [nypa.gov](https://www.nypa.gov/power/generation/all-generating-facilities) — nypa.gov · tier authoritative
- [nyserda.ny.gov](https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Programs/Clean-Energy-Standard/Tier4-Step-2-Bid-Submission-Response/Clean-Path-NY-Appendices.pdf) — nyserda.ny.gov · tier authoritative
- [powermag.com](https://www.powermag.com/nypa-astoria-project-astoria-new-york/) — powermag.com · tier public_source

## Data quality

- The exact asset is distinguished from Astoria Energy II (independently owned, 660 MW, entered service July 2011) and Astoria Energy LLC (both separately located in Astoria, Queens but not part of the Zeltmann project). Nameplate capacity differs by source: NYPA lists 576 MW (facility level, official Gold Book submission); FERC generator records sum to 528 MW (CA01 188 MW + CT01 170 MW + CT02 170 MW). Both are supported and accurate; they reflect facility-level vs. generator-level aggregation. The 576 MW is NYPA's official facility rating. Both dates are supported. The $650 million figure is total estimated project investment, not a documented sale or acquisition price. Sources also identify a $375 million initial 1998 estimate and a $242.1 million Slattery Skanska construction contract. The 1974 Con Edison transaction concerned the pre-existing Charles Poletti Power Plant, not Zeltmann. The Poletti plant closure was planned but its current status is outside the scope of Zeltmann. The project is located on the Poletti site but is a separate legal asset owned and operated by NYPA. Equipment specifications (GE 7FA gas turbines, Vogt-NEM HRSGs, SPX ACC, E-J electrical systems) are supported by project-specific sources. Balancing authority is NYISO; transmission owner is Consolidated Edison. As of August–November 2025, the plant was operating and generating power (556.3 GWh in three months).

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