Closing of Huntley Plant Can Mean New Story
On August 28th NRG announced the Huntley coal plant will retire. Huntley currently pays a total of $6 million in revenue our local municipalities. 75 workers work at the facility, which operates on the Niagara River.
NRG’s facility can’t make a profit on burning coal. Low natural gas prices have made it nearly impossible for coal to compete. NRG stated in its letter to the Public Service Commission, “… because the facility is not currently economic and is not expected to be economic, NRG intends to retire the units. “
This echoes trends across the country, coal fired plants are closing due to lack of growth in electricity demand and uncompetitive coal prices.
The retirement of Huntley is a familiar story for us in Western New York. For the last 40 years our region has experienced plant closures. Jobs have been lost, young people have left for work elsewhere, and our tax base has shrunk. Anyone familiar with this story knows how Huntley’s story could end –with more loss and an abandoned plant sitting on one third of Tonawanda’s waterfront.
We could wait and watch the same story play out, or we can work for something different. For over 18 months our coalition has worked to prepare for this announcement:
- In January 2014 a report on the plant’s finances was commissioned, and found the facility was losing money. We held community assemblies, shared the report and generated ideas on how to take care of people in case of retirement.
- In June 2014 we held a Just Transition Conference where experts shared ideas on how other communities have dealt with similar challenges.
- A stakeholder group was established, and has met for over a year to create a proactive Just Transition plan. This plan includes resources for revenue, resources for workers, and begins the process for future economic development.
- Our work began to pay off; in June $19 million was allocated for municipalities facing coal plant closures.
This is just the beginning. Workers and residents of Tonawanda should not be made to pay for Huntley’s retirement. Temporary funding needs to be provided to the community so that vital services aren’t cut.
As the bleak economic situation for coal continues, we need to honor the commitment that energy sector workers have made to this region. Resources should be provided to Huntley workers in order to make successful transition to other employment.
We ask that NRG communicate their intentions for the site, so that appropriate planning can take place to remediate and attract other business.
Another company in Western New York is closing, and we have a choice. We can sit back and let the same story happen again, or together, actively work for something better.
Rebecca Newberry Director, Clean Air Coalition
Richard Lipsitz President WNY Area Labor Federation
Peter Stuhlmiller President Kenmore Teachers Association
This editorial ran in the September 20, 2015 issue of The Buffalo News