After fielding stiff resistance from its neighbors, New York University will go ahead with plans to build a $110 million power plant under Mercer Street as part of its Green Action Plan. Members of the Mercer Street Block Association say the project will destroy a stand of mature trees and generally diminish quality of life in the area for the duration of the construction—two years. But last week, the local community board and the co-op Board of 250 Mercer St., which is located directly across from the future site, voted to approve the plan. NYU Associate Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Dr. Alicia D. Hurley said in a statement, “We are extremely pleased that we were able to work with the community to come to a decision on this.” Still, many members of the Mercer Street Block Association are residents of 250 Mercer and remain none too happy. Once the trees are gone and the plant built, the university will be able to remove 23 of its buildings from the city’s power grid thanks to the use of recaptured heat. Well, at least Con Ed’s stoked.