Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean)
DUNKIRK – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- Olean), Chair of the PowerUpWNY Coalition, was recently joined by other members of the coalition in launching a petition drive to gather support for NRG Energy, Inc.’s proposed Dunkirk Repowering Project. The group is seeking approval from the state to replace the existing coal-fueled power plant with a brand new, state-of-the-art natural gas power plant. If approved by the state, the new plant would produce cleaner energy, create up to 500 jobs and provide energy and resources to attract more businesses to the area.
In a media release, Senator Young said the group is urging residents, those who work in or near the City of Dunkirk, the Dunkirk City School District, businesses, organizations and friends of Dunkirk, Chautauqua and Erie Counties and our whole region to support this project by signing on to the petition to Governor Andrew Cuomo. She added that the more people we have contacting the governor and the members of his New York Energy Highway Task Force to express support for this project, the stronger the message will be to them about how critical this new plant is to the region’s economic future.
Young says the current facility is a huge contributor to the local economy, providing over $40 million a year in direct benefits to upstate New York. It pays annual property taxes of approximately $10 million, making it the largest taxpayer in both the city of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County. In addition, the Dunkirk facility spends $20 million in annual labor payments and $10 million in operational expenses, including locally-procured goods and services, which are then multiplied across the area.
PowerUpWNY is a coalition of Western New Yorkers coming together to advocate for a sensible, practical energy agenda for the State and one in which Western NY and its people will play a role. For more information, visit www.PowerUpWNY.com.
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