As most are aware, the 3 power plants in WNY represent major employment and tax anchors for our communities, with a combined economic impact of approximately $460 million per year in taxes, direct and indirect employment. These power plants have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into State of the Art emission control equipment in the past few short years as a commitment to doing business in NYS and WNY. They are already compliant with the stringent new EPA emission rules that will have hundreds of power plants closing across the country by 2015.
The resulting power supply shortage and demand on natural gas to replace generating capacity are expected to have major impacts on power pricing in the next 3 years.
Our WNY plants are struggling due to issues that include transmission congestion precluding the movement of abundant surplus power to downstate demand areas, and current natural gas prices – assured to change to meet impending demand.
As most are also aware, the IBEW NYS Utility Council has been advocating for transmission investments, and are delighted to report that the Governor is moving that process forward.
In the meantime, our WNY power plants need some help to survive the near term as dramatic changes that will impact power supply nationally, and the transmission fixes due in NYS will restore them to economic prosperity for years to come.
Please contact the following (Gov’s office + Assembly Speaker Silver) with the message that the “WNY power plants need a power purchase agreement”. Our WNY delegation is expected to lead the charge for this effort, but they need our assistance.
And please forward to anyone who shares our concern – this is budget related and extremely time sensitive.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo: State Capitol Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Web Address: http://www.governor.ny.gov/
To Email go here.
State Assembly: Honorable Sheldon Silver Speaker of the Assembly
New York State Assembly 932 Legislative Office Building Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-3791
Web Address: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us
Email: speaker@assembly.state.ny.us