NEW YORKERS OVERWHELM PUBLIC HEARING TO OPPOSE DANSKAMMER FRACKED GAS PLANT

Today, nearly one hundred advocates overwhelmed the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s first of four public hearings on Danskammer LLC’s proposal to expand their fracked gas power plant in Newburgh. As of two hours into the hearing, not a single speaker had spoken in favor of the project. The comment period for the project has also been extended until September 13th. Currently a peaker plant that only operates during periods of high energy demand, Danskammer hopes to expand their fracked gas plant on the bank of the Hudson River into a fully-operational gas power plant.

The proposal to expand Danskammer’s current peaker plant operation has been met with fierce community opposition. At public hearings on the project held in April, hundreds of advocates and residents spoke and provided comment in opposition to the project. Only 5% of speakers at the last series of public hearings spoke in favor of Danskammer’s expansion scheme.

“The people of the Hudson Valley deserve a future of unionized, good paying, green jobs, and an environment that is both beautiful and that protects human health,” said Brahvan Ranga of Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson. “The construction of this plant will be a giant step backwards on both of these fronts: creating the conditions for continued degradation of the environment, hazards to our air, water, and quality of life, and will continue to prop up a destructive fossil fuel company.”