Info Center
Current Status
In June 2024, Danskammer withdrew their application for a Title V air permit. Under the federal Clean Air Act, Danskammer cannot move forward with their proposal without this permit! This is a huge victory for local environmental justice communities – and everyone in the Hudson Valley and the Northeast!
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had previously denied Danskammer’s application for a permit under the CLCPA. Danskammer commenced two appeals of DEC’s October 2021 decision: a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court and an administrative appeal before DEC. In June 2022, the Supreme Court upheld DEC’s decision and agreed that the CLCPA mandated denial of permits that would be inconsistent with the state’s climate goals.
While it’s a huge win that Danskammer has withdrawn their permit application, the fight to stop the plant is not necessarily over. Danskammer may still try to build a new plant on the Hudson that emits toxic pollutants. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved and make sure that a new polluting power plant is not built on the shores of the Hudson!
CLICK HERE to learn more about alternatives for the Danskammer site
CLICK HERE to watch the May 2020 Webinar on Danskammer and Public Health
Background
Danskammer Energy owns an existing 64-year-old power plant on the Hudson River in the Town of Newburgh. The existing plant operates only a handful of days a year as a “peaker” facility. Danskammer is proposing to build a new 550-Megawatt gas-fired plant next to the existing facility. It would be a “baseload” facility, running nearly all the time.
Power from a new Danskammer plant is not needed to replace Indian Point when its generating units retire. Every two years, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) conducts a Reliability Needs Assessment (RNA), which assesses whether adequate generation and transmission resources exist to ensure the reliability of New York’s bulk power system. In its most recent (2018) RNA, the NYISO concluded that even with Indian Point’s retirement, there will be no reliability concerns for New York’s electric system over at least the next 10 years without a new Danskammer plant. Further, given the recent, very large increase in proposed renewable energy projects as a result of the adoption of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), future generation needs are expected to be met by renewable resources supported by energy storage.
The new Danskammer plant will emit far more air pollution than the existing plant. Given the dramatic increase in operating hours, harmful air pollutants that threaten public health and contribute to climate change will increase significantly, which Danskammer admits in its own regulatory filings. These pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides – both ozone precursors – as well as greenhouse gas emissions, which are projected to increase by more than 4,000%!
In April, the American Lung Association published their State of the Air® 2020. This report gave the Hudson Valley’s air quality a “D” average rating, with many counties ranking among the worst in the state. Air pollution particularly aggravates chronic diseases, including asthma, while extended exposure reduces life expectancy. Given the worrying public health issues caused by the region’s existing pollution, building a new power plant that will exponentially increase annual emissions is a giant step backward.
Infographics
Pollutants
Actual Emissions from Current Plant vs Projected Emissions from New Plant
Greenhouse Gases
Actual Emissions from Current Plant vs Projected Emissions from New Plant
Timeline
Danskammer Event Timeline
Danskammer Withdraws Permit Application for Polluting Fracked-Gas Power Plant in Newburgh
The ALJ in the DEC Air Permit proceeding granted Danskammer’s request to stay proceedings for one year, at which time Danskammer will withdraw or modify its application.
The ALJ in the DEC Air Permit proceeding issued a ruling that denied several of Danskammer’s legal challenges, granted party status to Scenic Hudson and other groups, and narrowed the fact issues for adjudication.
Scenic Hudson, Sierra Club and Orange-RAPP file legal briefs in DEC permitting proceeding arguing that DEC has full authority to deny Danskammer’s air permit on the basis of inconsistency with the CLCPA.
NRG Files Petition with the New York State Public Service Commission to Sell Land Under Astoria, Queens Peaker Plant to Beacon Wind
Judge dismisses a lawsuit filed by Danskammer’s Energy LLC, seeking to overturn the DEC’s denial of Title V air permit.
DEC Administrative Law Judge holds Issues Conference to consider issues for adjudication in the permit denial hearings
Scenic Hudson, Sierra Club, and Orange-RAPP file petitions for full-party status seeking to participate in hearings on DEC’s air permit denial
Overwhelming opposition to plant at public hearing for appeal of DEC’s decision to deny Title V air permit
Danskammer files appeal of DEC decision to deny its Title V air permit
Danskammer’s Title V air permit (required) is denied by NY’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Additional public hearings held for Siting Board/Article 10, as a result staggeringly high participaton by Stop Danskammer allies
Strong majority of public voices turn out against Danskammer at DEC Title V air permit public hearings
Flotilla to stop Danskammer- hundreds take to the Hudson in the name of protecting health, air, & environment
First round of Siting Board/Article 10 public hearings are held, with staggering number of allies registered to speak out. Many did not receive the opportunity to speak, due to the virtual hearings being overloaded/at capacity.
Westchester County Legislature unanimously passes resolution against Danskammer
Nearly 200 allies attend Film Premiere & Panel Discussion of Flicker Filmworks Short Documentary “Stop Danskammer”
“We must replace fossil fuel plants with clean power”- Andrew Cuomo in his annual State of the State address
Danskammer- Isn’t It Worth Getting Right? Unveiling of alternatives study done by Ghent Associates & University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design
Danskammer Files Fourth Application Supplement
A Legacy Reignited
The compelling STOP THE PLANT illustration was created in 2002 by renowned artist, graphic designer and Hudson Valley resident Woody Pirtle to mobilize grassroots opposition to another irresponsible industrial project along the Hudson River—the St. Lawrence Cement Plant in Hudson (Columbia County). Like the proposed Danskammer facility, this plant would have caused a massive increase in pollution and permanently prevented Hudson residents from reconnecting with their waterfront.
Featured on posters and lawn signs, Woody’s design provided indispensable support as the 7-year campaign waged by local and regional environmental groups heated up. They achieved victory in 2005, when New York State refused to grant the permit required for the project.
We thank Woody for allowing us to reuse this icon of protest art to convey the urgency of our current campaign. And we’re grateful to illustrator/animator Josh McKible, also a valley resident passionate about our communities’ environmental health, for bringing Woody’s poster design to life for this new campaign.
