On Friday, Congressman Reed put out a statement claiming support of the NRG plant in Chautauqua County. In response, Nate Shinagawa, with New York energy leaders and workers in Dunkirk where the plant is located, questioned whether his intentions are sincere.
"Congressman Reed says he is in support of keeping the jobs at the NRG plant in Dunkirk, but if he is so adamantly in support of keeping energy jobs in his district, why has he lead the effort to support the Canadian Transmission line that would ship energy jobs and shift a significant portion of our energy sources to Canada? Many from the region have told me that it could be the number one detractor from the expansion of our own energy sector, and will hurt local investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, shifting the responsibility and the benefits to Canadian workers," said Shinagawa.
In an editorial this past July in The Buffalo News titled "Power plant plan needs a lifeline," Ted Skerpon, the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 97, backed up that claim, saying, "An exclusionary extension cord to Canada will suck over $1 billion a year out of New York state, stifle New York state-based renewable energy proposals, threaten the ability to finance the repair of the New York state transmission system and continue to kill New York state jobs." The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter also opposes the project.
According to the Independent Power Producers of New York's website, President and CEO Gavin J. Donohue has said, "Our economic analysis shows that the proposed Champlain Hudson Project cannot be profitable unless it relies on subsidies. If that is the case, it is not truly a merchant project, as TDI suggests, and therefore it is not in the public interestTDI's Champlain Hudson Project ignores New York's existing resources, including both traditional and renewable power, which already have invested millions of dollars to do business here."
"Congressman Reed is taking the lead on a project that not only ships jobs out of our country and our district, but will cost taxpayers more to make it happen, wasting previous investments in our own energy sector. We need sound energy policy that makes energy more affordable for New Yorkers while supporting our investments in local clean energy, which is becoming more efficient and affordable with fewer subsidies going to the oil and gas industry," said Shinagawa.
