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Fashion Week Says Noisy Generators Are Out This Season

By Leslie Albrecht | July 11, 2011 1:52pm | Updated on July 11, 2011 2:33pm

UPPER WEST SIDENoisy generators are so last season.

After neighbors complained about the loud, pollution-spewing diesel generators used to power the last Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, producers say they're working on a plan to eliminate some generators and upgrade others.

In a recent letter to City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side, Fashion Week producer IMG promised to upgrade its entire generator fleet to "Tier 2 and 3 level engines - the most cutting-edge generator technology available on the market today."

IMG also told Brewer's office it's working on a plan to eliminate some smaller generators altogether. Though the most recent Fashion Week ran from Feb. 10-17, residents said generators behind Lincoln Center pumped out fumes and noise for more than a month, from January until late February.

"It was disgusting," said Lincoln Square resident Steven, who asked that his last name not be used. "It's like several buses idling outside your window continuously 24 hours a day non-stop. It’s great that they’re having a fashion show at Lincoln Center, but they have to do it in a way that’s responsible."

IMG says it can cut down on noise and fumes, and stop using the smaller generators altogether, if it can use what's called a "power drop," meaning that Con Edison would route extra power to Lincoln Center so IMG wouldn't have to use some smaller generators.

An IMG spokeswoman said the company is still waiting to hear from Con Edison about their willingness to try the "power drop." A Con Edison spokesman said engineers from IMG, Lincoln Center and Con Edison have been meeting to discuss the issue, but hadn't yet decided how the power drop plan could be implemented.