Riverkeeper joins regional and state lawmakers in calling on DEC to revoke CPV power plant permits
Goshen, NY — Riverkeeper joined with County and State lawmakers to seek the suspension or revocation of air quality permits for the Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) power plant. Riverkeeper and the elected officials filed the petition on Friday with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In addition to co-signing this petition, Riverkeeper continues to support and work with Protect Orange County, which has led the fight to stop the natural-gas plant from going online and has, for years, been asking Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to address the corruption, public health and safety, and environmental issues related to the existing air quality permit for CPV. The filing is pursuant to an administrative process allowing interested parties to seek a State determination on the suitability of CPV to hold state permits. It is the DEC Commissioner, Basil Seggos, who must make such a determination.
“We are very pleased that there is now a bipartisan effort to shut down the CPV power plant which we have long asserted was built on bribes and lies. We hope that the DEC takes the only action possible to restore public faith in the regulatory process and the Cuomo administration by rescinding the permits,” said Pramilla Malick, Protect Orange County’s Chair.
“It is important to remember that the money paid to Percoco’s wife was from the company, Competitive Power Ventures, and lasted for years after the power purchase agreement was taken off the table,” continued Malick. “These payments continued during periods in which several critical state permits were issued. This combination of facts warrant the immediate revocation of all state permits. But these efforts must not end here. Our lawmakers must understand the urgency of the health and safety impacts experienced each time this plant operates. They must use the full power of their offices to shut down this plant immediately by any means available.”
“CPV has shown itself willing to subvert state processes,” said Richard Webster, Riverkeeper’s Legal Program Director. “The court decision last month confirmed that CPV’s permitting process was tainted by bad acts, as had been previously alleged by Protect Orange County. We therefore believe CPV is not a suitable entity to hold permits in the state of New York.”
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