I found this to be an interesting about a potential new Empire State Plaza Co-Generation plant to replace the existing steam plant downtown …

“The [State Executive] Budget includes $88 million in new appropriations for the construction of a cogeneration plant and microgrid to power the Empire State Plaza and surrounding municipal buildings in Albany. In furtherance of the Governor’s goal to accelerate energy efficiency in State buildings through the Build Smart NY program, the cogeneration plant will simultaneously produce electricity and provide a heating source for State buildings. Through the development of microgrid installations, an important component of the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy, New York State is moving toward decentralizing its power grid, providing enhanced reliability, interconnection with existing utility systems, and optimized energy efficiency. These cogeneration plant and microgrid projects are innovative and transformative energy solutions that will reduce CO2 emissions by 25,600 tons/year, reduce annual utility costs, and provide additional protection against severe weather events and emergencies.”

https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/executive/eBudget1718/fy1718littlebook/Environment.pdf

“The microgrid to serve downtown Albany could include the following facilities: the Empire State Plaza (ESP), the Alfred E. Smith Building, the New York State Capitol Building, the New York State Department of Education, the Times Union Center, the Albany Capital Center, the New York State Comptroller’s Office (110 State Street), an Albany County office building (112 State Street), City Hall, the Albany County Courthouse, and the Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant (SASP). An aerial map of the proposed microgrid is included in Appendix A. This location was highlighted in the Opportunity Zones map provided by NYSERDA on the NY Prize website. 1 Each of the microgrid customers will be electrically connected behind the ESP meter.”

“It is the intention that a 16 MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant will be installed by the Office of General Services (OGS) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) on Sheridan Avenue at the decommissioned Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) building. The CHP Plant will be comprised of two (2) 8 MW Gas Turbine Generators (GTGs) that will operate on natural gas during normal operations but have dual fuel capabilities in times of natural gas curtailment. The existing backup No. 2 Fuel storage at the SASP has enough capacity to run the CHP system for a week without any refills or daily deliveries.”

“Electricity will be generated at the CHP Plant on Sheridan Avenue, and then be distributed to the additional microgrid customers through either existing infrastructure (OGS utility tunnels or Times Union Center walkway) or new underground concrete encased duct bank. Steam generated by the CHP Plant will serve the Empire State Plaza existing steam distribution system. The microgrid is anticipated to produce 118,850,000 kWh or 81.38% of total electricity annually for these ten facilities with the remainder of power imported through National Grid. This system will remove 15 MW of demand from the utility system. With an electric reduction of this magnitude on the distribution system, the utility will have more capacity for other customers on the National Grid utility system.”

“The microgrid to serve downtown Albany could include the following facilities: the Empire State Plaza (ESP), the Alfred E. Smith Building, the New York State Capitol Building, the New York State Department of Education, the Times Union Center, the Albany Capital Center, the New York State Comptroller’s Office (110 State Street), an Albany County office building (112 State Street), City Hall, the Albany County Courthouse, and the Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant (SASP). An aerial map of the proposed microgrid is included in Appendix A. This location was highlighted in the Opportunity Zones map provided by NYSERDA on the NY Prize website. 1 Each of the microgrid customers will be electrically connected behind the ESP meter.”

“It is the intention that a 16 MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant will be installed by the Office of General Services (OGS) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) on Sheridan Avenue at the decommissioned Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) building. The CHP Plant will be comprised of two (2) 8 MW Gas Turbine Generators (GTGs) that will operate on natural gas during normal operations but have dual fuel capabilities in times of natural gas curtailment. The existing backup No. 2 Fuel storage at the SASP has enough capacity to run the CHP system for a week without any refills or daily deliveries.”

“Electricity will be generated at the CHP Plant on Sheridan Avenue, and then be distributed to the additional microgrid customers through either existing infrastructure (OGS utility tunnels or Times Union Center walkway) or new underground concrete encased duct bank. Steam generated by the CHP Plant will serve the Empire State Plaza existing steam distribution system. The microgrid is anticipated to produce 118,850,000 kWh or 81.38% of total electricity annually for these ten facilities with the remainder of power imported through National Grid. This system will remove 15 MW of demand from the utility system. With an electric reduction of this magnitude on the distribution system, the utility will have more capacity for other customers on the National Grid utility system.”

https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/NYPrize/files/studies/48-City-of-Albany-Empire-State-Plaza.pdf