Make Danskammer upgrade part of N.Y.’S energy solution
New York is embarking on a transition to combat climate change and stimulate innovation in pursuit of these efforts. In times of transition, there is no such thing as a quick fix. In order to maintain momentum, projects, such as repowering the Danskammer Energy Center to be cleaner and more efficient, are imperative to bridge the gap between meeting current energy demands and the future capabilities of 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
As the president of SHARE, (Safe, Healthy, Affordable and Reliable Energy), a nonprofit coalition committed to ensuring reliable, clean and affordable electricity for all New Yorkers, I know firsthand the burden that both high energy prices and poor air quality have placed on New York families and businesses. That is why SHARE believes that as New York works towards cleaner air, stable climate rates and lower energy bills for residents, it’s unrealistic to use an all-ornothing lens. By integrating a power facility like the Danskammer upgrade project, the trajectory to reduce our carbon footprint is well within bounds.
As New York continues to build renewable projects, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) will continue to call upon dirty, old energy plants to provide our power. Modernizing these old facilities is the best way to improve our air for the moment.
The argument that a facility
An upgraded Danskammer facility is an agent of change not only for the future of our health, but of our environment too.
like Danskammer just isn’t good enough is rooted in an expectation that change is linear. What needs to be considered is that an upgraded facility, with the ability to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide pollutants, is an agent of change not only for the future of our health, but of our environment too.
Why is it not good enough that Danskammer Energy Center is capable of removing 332,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 70,000 cars off the road? This type of emissions reduction can make a lasting impact throughout New York right now. We do not have enough alternative energy options to support the state’s current energy demands. In the meantime, it’s imperative that we leverage the available resources at hand to bring us closer to the end-goal: a cleaner New York.
Privately funded, the repowering of Danskammer is a pathway to an uninterrupted transition from natural gas to 100 percent renewable energy. In the meantime, the Danskammer modernization project will support approximately 450 construction jobs over the course of two and a half years, driving approximately $200 million back into the local economy by way of wages. Does this sound like something not good enough?
To have a facility that is a savings of $53 million a year in energy costs for New Yorkers, a facility that can power up in minutes to boost energy reliability, and a facility that is capable of running on green hydrogen is definitely good enough. It’s good enough for SHARE and its member organizations and it should be good enough for all New York residents and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Change is not made overnight. We breathe today and we demand cleaner air today. We live today and we demand a stable, healthier climate today. We struggle to pay our bills today and we demand savings today. We demand the use of cleaner technology and power generation and it is available today. For the benefit of all New Yorkers who demand a cleaner life today, SHARE supports the Danskammer Energy upgrade project.