Megadam hydro proposal ‘not clean or renewable’

Michael Oates in his commentary “Investing in upstate renewables will lift all of New York,” June 28, points out that a grid bringing renewable energy downstate benefits both its ends: People upstate get needed jobs and people downstate get cleaner air. Unfortunately, the plan touted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill Deblasio is the damaging, short-sighted Hydro-quebec proposal.

Contrary to the hype, megadam hydro is not clean or renewable, and importing electricity undermines local renewable energy development. Hydroquebec has a long history of using indigenous land not ceded to the province for projects, flooding boreal forests and poisoning water with methylmercury.

The Hydro-quebec plan includes the Champlain Hudson Power Express, which would trench the spine of the Hudson River to bury a high-voltage transmission line. This will undoubtedly uncover long-buried PCBS and other toxins, threatening the health of our river and the drinking water of towns along the power line’s route.

Fortunately, we don’t need to buy electricity from a distant, unreliable source. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has received multiple proposals to develop in-state wind and solar power. This would create thousands of good, long-term jobs and keep energy dollars in New York instead of sending them to Canada. Why would we lock ourselves into a 25-year contract to import megadam energy when we can produce clean, renewable energy right here in New York state?

NYSERDA will select a proposal between now and Sept. 30. We need to make sure they choose one that promotes climate justice and grows our state’s renewable energy economy.

Lisa Harrison New York City