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NEW YORK, NY June 26, 2006 — The city won't need to build any new power plants until at least 2012, thanks to greater energy savings. WNYC's Beth Fertig reports.

REPORTER: There were predictions that the city's growing energy demands would require new power plants sooner. But the city now says greater conservation efforts have delayed the need for a few more years. A mayoral task force on Energy credits upgrading existing plants and measures to reduce demand. The city is also encouraging green buildings which are more energy efficient. But the Affordable, Reliable, Electricity Alliance calls the city's report "wishful thinking." The business and labor group believes new power plants may be needed as soon as 2008 because new developments will increase consumption. But the city says it's confident of its estimates because they're based on a reliability study by Con Edison. For WNYC, I'm Beth Fertig.