Energy Committee

National Sierra Club's Position on the Bush Energy Plan

Read Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope on Energy Deregulation 

For more information, or to join the Atlantic Chapter's Energy Committee, contact Committee Chair Bill Steibel

Atlantic Chapter's Position on Power Plant Sitings

Resolution Adopted by the Atlantic Chapter Executive Committee on May 5, 2001

Whereas, the siting process for power plants and major energy generating facilities in New York State has been revised, resulting in less input from the public;

and, the State now uses Article X of the Public Service Law as the vehicle for environmental review of plant sitings;

and, Article X is a fast-track siting process and is not nearly sophisticated enough to cover the complexities of power plant sitings;

and, under Article X, Environmental Justice "was not to be included in the public interest analysis the Siting Board is required to undertake" (April 6, 2001 Public Service Commission letter) which violates the civil rights of New York residents under Federal Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Standards and Department of Health standards;

and, over 70 major plant sitings (see NYISO.com Website) are now being considered throughout the State, many with DEC exemptions from any environmental review, many in violation of local and county sanitary and aquifer codes, which puts an undue burden on ordinary, reasonable citizens to prove environmental hazards caused by power plants;

and, there exists a massive conflict of interest among and between the Public Service Commission acting both as lead agency in the review process and as an internal overseer of the internal corporate undertakings of the individual development companies, such as ConEd;

and, State elected and appointed officials refuse to acknowledge independent analyses that point out that the supposed shortage of power need in the State does not exist (see Pace University study mentioned in NY Times, date to be provided);

and, the State has drastically reduced funding for conservation efforts and alternative sources of energy, and refused to address transmission line bottlenecks hindering state-wide distribution;

RESOLVED: That the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club demands that all power plants and energy generating facilities entering into the development process in New York State be subject to full environmental review under the State Environmental Review Act, the National Environmental Policy act, and be in total compliance with all aspects of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act;

ADDITIONALLY, if the plants are considering using sources of water from navigable water in the State, the Army Corps of Engineers must hold hearings to establish permit feasibility.

ADDITIONALLY: All power generating plants expanding or "repowering" on existing sites must be subject to full environmental reviews as mentioned above, particularly regarding claims to "grandfathered" permits that will now not pass the permitting process.

ADDITIONALLY: A comprehensive study of alternative sites, and an analysis of cumulative impacts, including the massive use of fresh and reservoir water for cooling mechanisms, must be undertaken for all plant sitings and "repowerings."

ADDITIONALLY: A thorough review of environmental justice issues must be included in any siting process.

FINALLY: The Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club reserves the right to oppose projects sited in bad locations on the merits, and we reserve the right to identify certain types of projects that we oppose and others that we do not, given full environmental review and opportunity for public participation.

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