Public Hearing for Dresden ‘Zombie’ Power Plant, Nov. 4, 2015

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Oct 302015
 

Just in time for Halloween, a decommissioned, coal-burning power plant north of Crestwood on Seneca Lake is being brought back to life, and plans are being laid to convert it to natural gas (methane). Calling all defenders to don their dress blues and attend a public hearing next Wednesday!

The old Greenidge (Dresden) Power Plant–located just 20 miles north of Crestwood’s gates and shuttered for four long years—may be repowered with natural gas. And, yes, this plant is connected by a series of pipelines to Crestwood’s Seneca Lake Methane Storage Facility. At the very least, if it is approved, it will create further demand in the region for natural gas.

The NY Public Service Commission will be holding an information session and public hearing next Wednesday on the proposal to repower the Dresden power plant on Seneca Lake.. We need all lovers of Seneca lake in attendance!

Please consider offering oral testimony. Or, just wear blue and show up. We need a showing of concerned citizens opposed to the further build-out of fracked-gas infrastructure in the Finger Lakes.

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Times:

6:00 PM Informational Forum

7:00 PM Public Statement

Hearing Location:

Dresden Fire House

3 Firehouse Avenue

Dresden, New York 14441

Lindsay Speer is working on creating talking points and will get them to those planning to attend early next week. Please let her know if you plan to speak by emailing her at lindsayspeer@gmail.com.

The proposal involves repowering the former coal power plant, which has been shuttered for four years, with natural gas. A pipeline will be built to connect the power plant to the Empire Connector pipeline, which in turn connects with the Millennium Pipeline in Corning. Crestwood’s methane storage operation is also connected to the Millennium Pipeline. This section of the Millennium and the Empire Connector pipelines can flow bi-directionally, depending on where the demand for natural gas is the greatest, which means that the power plant can create demand for gas stored at Seneca Lake.

We need to tell the Public Service Commission that fossil fuel power plants are not the future we want in New York.

Currently before the Public Service Commission are three petitions by the power plant’s owner. The relevant documents are linked to below for your own research.

CASE 15-E-0516

Petition of Greenidge Generation LLC for an Original Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and Lightened Regulation.

CASE 15-G-0571 – Petition of Greenidge Pipeline LLC and Greenidge Pipeline Properties Corporation for an Expedited Original Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and for Incidental or Lightened Regulation.

CASE 15-T-0586 – Application by Greenidge Pipeline LLC; Greenidge Pipeline Properties Corporation to Construct a Fuel Gas Transmission Line, Containing Approximately 24,318 Feet of 8” Steel Pipeline, Located in the Towns of Milo and Torrey, Yates County.

Written comments will also be accepted if submitted by November 9.