Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cayuga Power Plant Converting to Transmission Alternative As Plans to Repower to Natural Gas is Axed

Philip Cohen
/
Wikimedia Commons

  The Public Service Commission (PSC) has nixed a plan that would have extended the life of a Cayuga County coal-fired power plant. In 2012, the owners of the Cayuga Power Plant, Upstate New York Power Producers, Inc, told the state it wasn’t economically viable to run and they wanted to close it. But, concerned about the reliability of the electric grid, the PSC ordered them to submit a plan to add the capacity to burn natural gas as well as coal. Attorney with Earthjustice Chris Amato calls the PSC decision to halt that plan a win for the environment and consumers.

"The rate payers were going to be saddled with millions of dollars in rate increases to finance the repowering, and it wasn't really necessary," 

Earthjustice andSierra Club have joined elected officials, scientists and ratepayers, to argue that upgrading transmission capacity would ensure reliability of the grid for about a quarter of the $100 million cost of converting the obsolete coal burning plant. The PSC has approved a $23.3 million dollar transmission project in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties.  Amato says that should significantly increase both the efficiency and capacity of transmission lines.

"Which is a good thing because it will also help in the distribution of energy from renewables,"

The plant on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake is one of the few remaining coal burning power plants in New York, and dates back to the mid 1950’s.  Environmentalists point out that natural gas, while cleaner-burning, is still a powerful contributor to climate change. Amato believes the PSC’s decision is an indication that the state is taking is its commitment to clean, renewable energy seriously.

"This is a signal that New York state government is moving away from the idea that natural gas is the answer to replace coal,"

The PSC has authorized the sale of the Cayuga power plant to an independent power producer, Riesling Power a unit of Blackstone Group. Governor Cuomo is committed to eliminating coal-burning power plants in New York over the next four years.

Credit Googlemaps

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.