URGENT ALERT: NRG Repowering in Danger of Derailment by Outside Groups

For Release: Immediate, October 16, 2014

Public Service Commission to Meet October 23 to Review Repowering Pipeline

            With radical outside groups trying to derail the NRG repowering project, Senator Catharine Young is urging the community to come together once again to save our schools, city, and taxpayers. A Public Service Commission (PSC) forum will be held on the gas pipeline that will service the repowered NRG plant in Dunkirk, and taxpayers and residents are urged to show up and show their strong support for repowering.

            “Radical groups representing outside interests are trying to derail the plant and hurt our school, city, and communities. If they succeed, we will lose jobs, our schools will suffer, taxes will skyrocket across the county, and every taxpayer in Chautauqua County will be hurt. We need a huge, strong showing at this forum to let the PSC know we are fully behind the pipeline project and repowering,” said Senator Young.

            “Over 2,500 people showed up last year when we rallied at the PSC hearing at SUNY Fredonia, over 1,000 people voiced their support in Dunkirk in the freezing winter weather at the rally on the pier, and over 500 people turned out to celebrate when the Governor announced just before last Christmas that the plant would be repowered. Now, all of our hard work is in jeopardy unless we do something again. I urge everyone to join me to save the plant and our future,” said Senator Young.

            “This project will save jobs, stabilize the tax base, and provide clean and reliable power to the Western New York electrical system. If the project falls through, the exact opposite will happen - lost jobs, higher taxes, a decimated school, and dependency on outside power sources. We cannot let that happen,” said Senator Young.

            The public forums hosted by the PSC will take place on Thursday, October 23, and the proposed pipeline that will serve the NRG Dunkirk plant will be discussed and explained. Local residents will have an opportunity to speak during the public statement portion of the hearings.

            The location and date of the forums are:

Fredonia Opera House

9 Church Street, Village Hall

Fredonia, NY  14063 

Thursday, October 23^rd 

Public Service Commission Forums on NRG Dunkirk Pipeline

2:00 - 3:00 PM     - Informational Forum I

3:00 - 4:00 PM     - Public Statement Hearing I

6:00 - 7:00 PM     - Informational Forum II

7:00 PM               - Public Statement Hearing II

            “I cannot thank the community enough for their incredible support in the mission to repower NRG Dunkirk so far. Because of their hard work and dedication, we were successful in winning round 1 in the fight to repower the plant and save our community. We know that the economic, energy, and environmental justifications for repowering are overwhelming and this project is crucial for our future.

            “Now we need to come together once again with a unified voice and say ‘RePower Dunkirk!’ You turned out before and we need you again. The future of our school, city, county, and every household depends on the success of this project,” said Senator Young.

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