Join Queens Climate Project on Sunday October 25th from noon to 2pm for a bike ride and rally to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure at the NRG Astoria plant. There are three major power plants built along the western Queens waterfront and the air they pollute is not siloed off to just one neighborhood. It travels to Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona. It also reaches the Bronx and across to Manhattan. The pollution also disproportionately affects low-income communities of color at the nearby Queensbridge Houses and Ravenswood Houses, two large public housing developments within a mile of the plants. On this ride we intend to show just how close these polluting plants are. The final stop will be at the NRG plant. The company proposes to build a new gas fired power plant to replace its current 50 year-old peaker plant. This 10 year-old proposal is in direct opposition to New York State’s recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most ambitious climate legislation any state has passed.

This is a critical moment where residents of Queens must come together to demand that new energy infrastructure does not poison our communities. Instead, we need investments in renewable energy and energy storage to meet our electricity needs with zero emissions.

The ride will begin at noon in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights (37th Road, bet. Broadway & 74th St). We will be riding through light Sunday morning street traffic. Participants are advised to do basic bike maintenance in advance (e.g. properly inflate your tires, ensure your brakes work etc). Helmets are recommended and masks should be worn. Bring water to stay hydrated. Also bring a sign, decorate your bike, enjoy the ride and stand up to the polluters!