Not too many coal fired boilers in NYC. Likewise, hi sulphur bunker C not permitted either. But just across the river in Jersey City is the PSEG coal fired station- it has a precipitator to cut down on the ash plume a bit. Chances are they only blow soot at night.
The PSE&G coal fired plant in Jersey City is able to burn coal, NG or oil. The soot blowers are programed to opperate continuosly when burning coal. The unit is design to operate at full load without an ash plume.
Soot blowers can be design to operate by steam, air or electric motors.
vty/rjoaks