Avon Hosts Last Hearing to Retire New York’s Remaining Coal-Fired Power Plants

Avon, NY. -- Concerned citizens and local organizations gathered on Tuesday to urge Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to quickly finalize a proposed plan that would fully retire New York’s remaining coal plants by 2020. Advocates delivered thousands of petitions requesting the framework of the plan establish a glidepath for communities and workers affected by this transition and ensure the final rule barred these plants from converting to other dirty energy sources like fracked gas, waste, or biomass.

Last month, Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  announced the limits on carbon pollution from power plants that would to put the dirtiest, most dangerous and most inefficient power plants on a clear pathway to retirement. In response, the Cayuga Plant, one of two remaining coal-fired plants has now proposed to convert to fracked gas brought in via bomb truck.

“Now is the time to finalize this plan in order to make good on the Governor’s commitment to end coal, and support those communities affected by the transition. As the state continues to replace dirty fossil fuels with clean energy, we must make sure none of these plants have the ability to repower with shortsighted dirty energy alternatives like fracked gas, waste or biomass,”  David Alicea, New York Lead Organizer for Sierra Club said. “With this first in the nation proposal, Governor Cuomo has demonstrated to the country and the world that it is possible to curb climate pollution and protect public health while building a 21st century renewable energy economy.”

“New York’s fossil fuel power plants have polluted New York’s air, water, and climate for too long,” Irene Weiser, councilmember in the Town of Caroline in Tompkins County said. “Governor Cuomo must make good on his climate commitments and ensure DEC not only finalizes this rule and ends coal pollution for good, but they must strengthen it to ensure that inefficient old plants like Cayuga are fully retired - not repowered to fracked gas, waste, or biomass.”

If bolstered, this rule could set a national example for other states to responsibly retire coal-fired power plants while ensuring safe, reliable and affordable power to the community. The plan is necessary for the state to reach its goal of reducing climate pollution 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050 while cleaning up New York’s air and water and protecting public health.

“Mothers, grandmothers and mothers-to-be are looking to the future through the eyes of the children they nurture and demand that our elected officials and regulators make the transition to a clean energy grid now.  What we do - or don’t do - today will determine the type of world all of our children will inherit,” Katie Quinn-Jacobs of Mothers Out Front Fingerlakes said.  “We are asking the New York State DEC to strengthen the air emissions standards so outdated and damaging methods of energy production, such as coal and fracked gas, will no longer be given a green light in our state.”

“Finalizing the proposed regulations will close the doors on the state’s dirtiest, most antiquated power plants, which have wreaked havoc on our environment and health for too long. The proposal can be made even stronger by taking steps to ensure that the coal plants are not repowered with fracked gas, thus solving one problem and creating another,” Brian Smith, Associate Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) said.  “We commend Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Seggos for making New York a national leader in the fight against climate change.”

“As communities and individuals make the transition to clean renewable energy we must ensure we are also retiring the dirtiest and most inefficient power plants,” Abby McHugh-Grifa, Leadership Team Co-Coordinator for Rochester People’s Climate Coalition said.  “This proposed rule takes an important step in that direction but must go further by requiring regular re-evaluation to make sure we continue ratcheting down climate pollution in order to truly protect our local environment, public health, and climate.”

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