The matter was explored decades ago by Residents Association committees, on which Potts served, but languished until recently, when energy costs began to soar.  Rivercross, for example, is experiencing a 25% increase in electricity charges, and imposing a five percent maintenance increase to cover the costs.

At Thursday's RIOC meeting, Liss asked for permission to examine and evaluate the Steam Plant, and he is to confer with RIOC President Robert H. Ryan about that.  For his part, Ryan responded to Liss's comments by saying that RIOC has approached a couple of firms involved in the operation of co-gen plants.  "We see a great benefit in using the plant more efficiently," Ryan said.

Liss's statement was contained in a December 29 letter to RIOC and the Residents Association:

"Can co-generation work on Roosevelt Island? Perhaps for the first time in Roosevelt Island history an opportunity exists whereby RIOC, RIRA and our neighboring hospitals could benefit by sharing an existing facility and satisfy their respective interests.

"A recent article in The Main Street WIRE revealed that RIOC was planning to divest itself of various properties in order to achieve further development.  To my surprise I learned that one of the parcels that RIOC has in its possession is the steam-generating plant located directly beneath the 59th Street Bridge.  This high-pressure steam-generating plant presently services both Goldwater and Coler Hospitals utilizing only a fraction of its total capacity.  The engineering solution is simple.  The political solution is far more complicated.

"Co-generation of steam and electric power is not a unique idea but what is unique is that the power companies today are prepared to buy back electric power from an outside co-generation plant.  The requirement for Roosevelt Island would be a generator of 50 MW which will not only supply the electrical needs of Roosevelt Island, but will also provide a surplus of power for use by a power company.

"The purpose of this letter is not to make a sweeping or simplistic approach to the problem, but to present certain facts to the residents as well as RIOC.  The facts are the following:

"1.  Presently there exists a steam-generating plant servicing both hospitals on the Island.

"2.  The new housing planned for Southtown could incorporate steam heat from the co-generation plant as opposed to spilling off excess steam power not being utilized presently by both hospitals.

"3.  Southtown could become the eventual end user of electricity produced by the co-generation plant.

"4.  Anticipated co-generation will have a benefit for every household by reducing their electrical cost by 30% per year.

"5.  Present electrical costs for Eastwood, Island House, Westview and Rivercross approach $5 million per year.

"6.  Residents can also anticipate 20% increases within the next year based upon increased fuel costs.  It should be noted that the average two-bedroom apartment on Roosevelt Island consumes between $200 to $250 per month in electricity, and the estimated savings for a two-bedroom apartment would approach $100 per month.

"Residents of the Island realize we pay for our 'free electricity' by observing our annual increase in maintenance and rent.  Perhaps the first requirement is for the residents to be fiscally responsible and have meters installed within our apartments; simultaneously the owners should be required to reduce the maintenance [and rent] based on cost savings.  The adversarial position between the residents and RIOC has always boiled down to dollars and cents, namely Public Purpose Funds versus those monies that are returned to Albany.  Today we are presented with a clear opportunity for Roosevelt Island to benefit from an existing facility which already produces steam heat and has the ability to produce electricity with the addition of a steam generator at very low cost.  The political solution is perhaps for both sides to share the initial cost and benefit from the surplus? This requires that RIOC, the residents of Roosevelt Island, and both hospitals have an agreement that benefits all concerned.  Finally, if any individual has a solution how this might be accomplished before we price ourselves out of 'affordable housing on Roosevelt Island' feel free to contact me.  My e-mail address is RLiss@att.net."