DEC says no to gas plants
Newburgh, Queens plans “inconsistent” with state’s goals
The state Department of Environmental Conservation denied two proposed natural gas power plants by citing New York’s new climate law, signaling a precedent-setting moment for a state with aggressive environmental goals.
“Both would be inconsistent with New York’s nationleading climate law, and are not justified or needed for grid reliability,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a tweet Wednesday. “We must shift to a renewable future.”
The denial of the two proposed plants, Astoria Gas Turbine Power in Queens and Danskammer Energy Center in Newburgh, marked a milestone in the implementation of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The proposed plants would “interfere with the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits established in the Climate Act,” Seggos said in a statement.
The state is seeking to bring greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below the 1990 levels by 2030, and 85 percent below the 1990 levels by 2050, according to its climate law.
The energy plant proposals conflict with more longterm goals of the state’s climate law, according to the denial letter from DEC.
“Constructing and operating a new fossil fuel-fired power plant accomplishes the exact opposite and perpetuates a reliance on fossilfuels,” the letter to Astoria Gas said.
The decision was celebrated by environmental advocates, who were looking toward the permit renewals as a test of how the state would implement its climate law.
“This is a major victory and a first interpretation,” said Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic chapter.
Downs was speaking at an Assembly hearing on how “proof of work” cryptocurrency mining at coal plants in the state comports with the climate act.
At the hearing, DEC and the Public Service Commission declined to attend, Chair Steve Englebright said. He harangued the agencies for not showing up. The permit denial was announced minutes before the hearing in Albany.
Both the DEC and the PSC provided written testimony to the committees, according to documents provided to the Times Union. Both agencies cited a desire to avoid testifying on specific issues while they are both reviewing certain facilities that fall under this question. Both DEC and PSC expressed a desire to study the issue further.
“Projects that add to pollution detract from people’s health and fuel the climate crisis are clear failures and have no place in New York’s future,” Peter M. Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY, said in a statement. “This is a tremendous decision by DEC.”
Iwanowicz and his organization are the central force behind advocating for the second ballot question in this election, which calls for a constitutional amendment that would enshrine for New Yorkers a right to clean air, water and environment.
“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, and we owe it to future generations to meet our nation-leading climate and emissions reduction goals,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
Hochul, running for governor and likely to face a Democratic primary in June, has been pushing for climate forward policies since taking over as governor. While her initial speeches did not include a conversation of the climate, historic flooding in the New York City area in her first days in office brought the issue to the forefront of her policy.