North Shore Towers - History - Energy Independence

Energy Independence

The North Shore Towers complex has a self-generating power plant that produces electricity independent of local power companies. This was noted during the New York City Blackout of 1977 when the entire city was without power but lights were still visible in the North Shore Towers.

During the Northeast Blackout of 2003, the North Shore Towers continued to produce electricity unaffected. This resulted in extensive media coverage on the co-op's self-sufficiency with regard to energy. After seeing this news coverage of North Shore Towers’ ability to produce power during the blackout, city tax collectors sent energy tax bills to North Shore Towers and the Penn South co-op in Chelsea, Manhattan. The tax bills were for $1 million each, representing unpaid fuel taxes going back 20 years. This was extremely controversial because both co-ops produce their own power. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Councilman David Weprin (D-Queens), then Councilwoman Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan), and other city officials worked towards settling the tax bills and removing future energy taxes for the co-ops. Then Council Speaker Gifford Miller (D-Manhattan) commented that such co-ops “should be rewarded, not punished for providing their own energy.”