YOUR VOICE IS NEEDEDThe Siting Board will decide whether or not Danskammer's proposal is approved. It's up to us to STOP THE PLANT! Please fill in your comment below. Personalized comments will be most effective, but if you are short on time, you can use the pre-filled text. We have also provided some talking points below if you need them to guide your comment.Name First Last Email Address ZIP / Postal Code Email ContentI am writing regarding Case 18-F-0325, the Danskammer Energy proposal to build a new fracked-gas power plant on the Newburgh waterfront. I urge the siting board to deny approval for this proposal, which will increase air pollution, worsen the climate crisis and disproportionately harm people of color and low-income communities. If this plant gets built, it will be an enormous step backward in our state's efforts to transition to renewable energy sources.*** Your information will be entered automatically at the end of the email***Talking points detailing the negative impacts of the Danskammer proposal: INCREASE AIR POLLUTION & THREATEN OUR HEALTH. A new Danskammer could add over 25 times more health-damaging particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to our region. The pollution could contaminate our agricultural lands, negatively impact tourism, and exacerbate respiratory illnesses, which are already elevated in Newburgh and the surrounding area.WORSEN THE CLIMATE CRISIS. A new Danskammer would increase the region’s fossil fuel dependency and would emit up to 40 times more greenhouse gases at a time when NY state is supposed to be reducing greenhouse gases by 85% by the year 2050. HARM PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. The new Danskammer would add to the pre-existing environmental racism in Newburgh, a city already struggling with PFO/PFA drinking water contamination from Stewart Air National Guard Base.BE AN UNNECESSARY RISK. A new Danskammer is not needed as a power source even with Indian Point closing, as New York State continues to rapidly increase its renewable energy portfolio with storage and energy efficiency measures.POTENTIALLY FLOOD. A new Danskammer would be constructed on a known floodplain which was severely flooded less than a decade ago by Hurricane Sandy--and damaged the existing power plant to the extent it was slated to be sold for scrap.BE A STEP BACKWARD. A new Danskammer plant would need to be phased out no later than 2040 (per the NY’s state energy policy- the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act), and likely sooner. If built, it will very likely be a stranded asset- the plant owners will declare bankruptcy and the surrounding community will be left holding the bag.
