Roaring Steam at NYC Power Plant Upsets Many

QUEENS, N.Y. (CN) - The New York Fire Department dispatched at least seven fire trucks to a Queens generating plant before dawn Monday morning, responding to billowing steam and a deafening roar that reportedly could be heard by Manhattanites across the East River.

A spokesman for Transcanada-owned Ravenswood Generating Plant said the sound was caused by a safety valve going off.

The Long Island City plant has 16 such valves, which go off when there is "overpressurization," spokesman Terry Cunha said.

Since this type of event is not a common occurrence, Cunha said the plant is going to investigate what happened.

In the meantime, officials removed the offending unit and have said everything is still operating.

An FDNY spokesman said their units responded at about 6:17 a.m. after receiving "a ton of calls" about the noise.

The trucks left the scene within half an hour, and the department will not conduct its own investigation.

Other media outlets have reported that Transcanada has dealt with labor disputes at the plant since its acquisition in 2008.

Ravenswood notes in a company brochure that it has the capacity to serve approximately 21 percent of New York City's peak load.

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