On August 28^th 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 

On August 25th 2015 NRG announced the retirement of the Huntley Coal plant in the Town of Tonawanda. The facility employees 79 workers and contributes significant revenue to our local municipalities including the Town of Tonawanda, Erie County and millions to the Kenmore Tonawanda School District.

The company cited economic reasons for the retirement. “We don’t foresee any scenario where the plant would be economically viable,” said David Gaier, NRG’s spokesman to The Buffalo News, “This is a reflection of the economics of power generation.”

For the last year and a half Clean Air has been working with hundreds of local residents and allies including the WNY Labor Federation and the Kenmore Teachers Association, to generate a plan in case of this announcement. In January 2014 we shared the results of the prophetic report that showed Huntley was struggling financially and was likely to close.

• In the spring of 2014 we held 4 community assemblies that shared the details of the report, and where residents and workers generated ideas on who would need to be taken care of in case of the closure, and how we could take care of them.
• After the assemblies a group of stakeholders was established, to flush out these ideas, and create a proactive Just Transition plan. This plan includes how to make up revenue lost by the retirement, potential pots of money to provide for workers, and a pathway forward to begin long term economic development planning for the Town.
• In June of 2014 we held a Just Transition Conference at New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) – where experts on economic development and coal transitions came to share ideas of how communities across the country have dealt with similar challenges.
• In October 2014 The Buffalo News editorial board cited our work and stated “The plant’s days appear to be numbered, at least as it exists today… Because of that, local entities that have become dependent upon the plant might want to start planning ahead.”
• In May of 2015 we partnered with the UB School of Architecture and Planning – and  students took up the challenge of imagining what the Huntley site could look like if the plant retires. These ideas where shared publicly with residents who live closest to the plant
• In June of this year – our work began to pay off – and the NYS Legislature allocated $19 million for municipalities and districts facing coal plant closures.

Yesterday, when NRG made their announcement, we were ready. Together, with Richard Lipsitz, President of the WNY Labor Federation and Peter Stuhlmiller, President of the Kenmore Teachers Association, we released the following statement:

“Our community and partners in the labor movement have been preparing for this announcement. We call on the New York State Government to support our communities through this transition by funding our plan for a Just Transition. Our plan will make our communities whole by securing funding for our schools, compensating and caring for coal plant workers and families, and begin the process of cleaning up the site and reconnecting us to our waterfront.

The Tonawanda community has been working to develop a transition plan for over a year with input from residents who live by the plant, the Western New York Area Labor Federation, IBEW Local 97, the Kenmore Teachers Association, and many others. Because we began early, Tonawanda is well situated to handle the transition. We remain committed to an inclusive planning process.”

Join us at our community meeting September 10th. More details to come.

The EPA recently reached an agreement with the NOCO Energy Corp for violations at NOCO’s facility in Tonawanda on Grand Island Blvd.

NOCO operates a petroleum and chemical bulk storage terminal. This facility stores and distributes liquid petroleum, asphalt, fuel oil, gasoline, ethanol and other products containing regulated air pollutants. It also collects, blends and markets waste oil. This facility has sixty-eight storage tanks on their property.

According to the most recent data on the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory, (TRI), the NOCO facility releases over 9,517 lbs. of air pollution, including the carcinogens naphthalene, benzene and polycylic aromatic compounds.  The NOCO facility also emits pollutants that are known to target the central nervous system (CNS).  The most recent data show that, in 2015  NOCO emitted 2,308 lbs. of toluene, 2,684 lbs. of xylene, and 535 lbs. of n-hexane, all which can cause CNS problems.

Many of our members recognize NOCO by the strong petroleum smell that occurs right before the Grand Island Bridge.

NOCO has also been found in violation numerous times over the last 5 years for violation of the Clean Air Act.

In 2014, our membership sent letters to the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency demanding more pollution control technology at the facility.

A few months ago it was announced that the NOCO would install pollution control devices to capture emissions from their asphalt tanks. This technology is scheduled to be installed between 2015-2019. Clean Air was encouraged that pollution controls would be put in place and petitioned the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to require the company to improve how it monitors emissions, stressing that good monitoring is necessary to ensure that pollution controls work properly.

Then, on August 17th 2015, the EPA released a consent agreement that found NOCO in violation of the Clean Air Act, fining the company $59,773 for not monitoring pollution as required by law.  The agreement also requires the company to follow Clean Air regulations in the future.

We are hopeful that this action taken by EPA will reduce the smell by the Grand Island Bridge and further reduce toxic air emissions in Tonawanda.

NOCO Energy Corp operates a petroleum and chemical bulk storage terminal in Tonawanda. This facility stores and distributes liquid petroleum and products containing regulated air pollutants. There are 68 storage tanks at NOCO’s property, including 6 tanks that hold asphalt.

Our members have complained numerous times to the Department of Environmental Conservation regarding smells by the NOCO facility.

“There are consistent odors and so forth.  One that I encounter generally several times a week is one at South Grand Island Bridges, it’s pretty strong petroleum, and it shows up there from NOCO territory.”

“For me the most significant is I really, really dislike some morning if I happen to be taking a walk on the River Walk, close to the Grand Island Bridge and all of the sudden I start to smell some awful horrendous smell.”

NOCO has also been found in violations numerous times over the last 5 years for violation of the Clean Air Act.

In 2014, our membership sent letters to the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Protection Agency demanding more pollution control technology at the facility.

This spring NOCO’s Title V air permit was up for renewal. Title V air permits are required for all major air pollution sources and are renewed every 5 years. Air permits set requirements for the facility to perform monitoring so that the public can be confident that the facility is following the law and may require control technology for certain pollutants that can negatively impact people’s health.

In the new permit, NOCO is required to install pollution control equipment on these tanks, to reduce emissions between 2015 and 2019!

Our Tech Team worked diligently for a month and a half to review the new permit, and demanded better monitoring of the pollution control technology, and clearer enforcement guidelines for the asphalt tanks.

On July 3^rd the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded, stating that the agency agreed with our comments, and will develop a plan to improve air monitoring at NOCO!

On Thursday, May 7, over 200 Clean Air members, supporters, and community leaders joined us at the Hotel Lafayette to celebrate another incredible year of hard-fought victories for environmental health and justice and to honor this year’s winners of our Unsung Hero and Golden Gas Mask Awards.

Our award winners, L-R: Diane Lemanski, Vince Mistretta, and Will Yelder

THE UNSUNG HERO AWARD honors a person who has shown a significant commitment to the fight for environmental health and justice in Western New York but whose work might go unnoticed. This individual has demonstrated both humility and an unwavering commitment to the fight for environmental health and justice in the region.

THE GOLDEN GAS MASK AWARD honors a person who has shown dedication and leadership in the fight for environmental health and justice in Western New York. This individual has demonstrated a deep commitment to action on behalf of Western New York residents and has contributed to the development of powerful strategies to improve community health and the environment.

WILLIAM YELDER is a member and volunteer from Buffalo. Will has worked tirelessly on our Participatory Budgeting (PB) campaign, among several others, since joining Clean Air in 2012. PB is trying to democratize public money in the City of Buffalo to be decided on by regular people. He has attended three PB conferences across the country; presented at multiple conferences, community events, and regional panels; was a 2012 Lois Gibbs Fellow; has made hundreds of phone calls during phone banks; and has met with every member of the Common Council, the Mayor, and many other local legislators about PB. Will was also on the City Hall PB Working Group Committee to explore whether the City of Buffalo can implement PB. If you need to know anything or everything about PB, Will is your guy – though be prepared to listen for a while. Just call him PB Will, he is one of our recipients of the 2015 Unsung Hero Award.

VINCENZO MISTRETTA has been the man behind the camera at dozens of Clean Air events since becoming involved in 2011. All of the videos used to promote Clean Air and document our work have been shot, edited, and perfected by Vince. He’s shot the Just Transition Conference, Amigone Hearings, Participatory Budgeting Expo, and many more. Vince has also given his time and energy as a volunteer at several Clean Air events, helping the staff build a movement for a healthier WNY. He is one of our recipients of the 2015 Unsung Hero Award.

DIANE LEMANSKI joined Clean Air in 2013 for support in fighting the noise and dust coming from a concrete crusher that is operating behind her home in Seneca Babcock. Diane’s comprehensive record keeping and “take no prisoners” attitude led to organizing her neighbors to fight for a better quality of life. Diane’s determination and strategy won infrastructure improvements on her street, DEC enforcement action on the company, and Senator Charles Schumer’s support in 2014. Diane is the recipient of the 2015 Golden Gas Mask Award.

Thank you to all who attended, sponsored, and supported our Sixth Annual Dinner. Visit our Facebook for more amazing pictures of the night, courtesy of Alex Fisher. Special thank you to James Heaney of Bicycle Creative for his support in designing our beautiful event programs you see above. If you couldn’t make it but would still like to support the work of Clean Air and our members like Will, Vince, and Diane, just hit the Donate tab up there on the top right – your contribution will go to work right away fighting for a healthier WNY for all.

Sponsors

Allen Street Consulting
Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant
Buffalo CarShare
Campus Wheelworks
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Canisius College Dept. of Environmental Studies
Citizen Action
Community Power for Health and Justice
CWA Local 1122
CWA Local 1168
CWA District 1
Dan Schmidt, State Farm
District Council 4
Dolce Panepinto
Emminger Newton Pigeon Magyar, Inc.
Gallagher Printing
Geico
Hip Gypsy
IBEW Local 41
Lexington Co-Op
Lipsitz & Ponterio
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz
Buffalo Common Councilman Michael LoCurto
Teamsters Local 264
Senator Timothy Kennedy
Town of Tonawanda Deputy Supervisor Joseph Emminger
Tri-Main Development
UB MD – Internal Medicine
University at Buffalo School of Nursing
WNY Area Labor Federation
WNY CWA Council
ECDC Chair Jeremy Zellner

The US Environmental Projection Agency and New York State reached a $12 million settlement with Tonawanda Coke Corporation.

• $7.9 million will be used for equipment upgrades for their facility to reduce emissions.
• $2.75 million will go to the Federal Gov’t and State of New York for civil penalties
• $1.3 million will be managed by the State of New York to be used for local environmental projects.

“We applaud the hard work and leadership of the US EPA . For years Clean Air has organized Tonawanda residents to demand justice. We understand that $1 million will be set aside for “Environmental Benefit Projects. We urge the Attorney General’s office to use a participatory budgeting process where residents can generate ideas and vote on what projects this money should fund. Local residents need to have direct control over where that money is spent,” said Rebecca Newberry, Clean Air organizer.

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. It gives ordinary people real power over real money, letting them work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives.

Link to the consent order: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decree/us-et-al-v-tonawanda-coke-corporation

Read more on settlement here. 

Clean Air is proud to announce our partnership with the Kenmore – Tonawanda Teachers Association’s and the WNY Area Labor Federation First Book Program.

First Book is a national organization that supports literacy for young people. On May 16th between 9 and noon, 4,000 new, free books will be available to families to pick up at the Local 135 United Steelworker Hall at 810 Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda (near Sheridan Park).

We need your help to get the word out! Clean Air members will be calling families telling them about this great opportunity stock up on books for summer reading! We need people to help make calls!  We will provide the phone numbers and the script of what to say. Our phone bank will run on

Tuesday, May 12th from noon to 4pm

Wednesday, May 13th from 4 to 7pm

Thursday, May 14th from noon to 4pm.

Come help out! Call Rebecca at 852-3813 or email at Rebecca@cacwny.org to tell us your coming down.

We need DuPont to Do More to reduce harmful emissions in Tonawanda

Tonawanda New York has the highest concentration of air regulated facilities in the state. DuPont is a major contributor to this air pollution. The DuPont Yerkes facility is the 3rd largest polluter in Erie County.  According to the most recent data from the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory, DuPont emits 201,239  pounds of Methyl Methacrylate and 36,400 pounds of Vinyl Fluoride, both these chemicals can cause serious health problems.

We know while the average income of households living next to DuPont Yerkes is about $11,000 a year, DuPont’s CEO’s total compensation was over $14 million in 2013. They are a Fortune 500 company, and the largest U.S. chemical maker by market value.

DuPont also has a history of violations

In 2010, an explosion at the plant killed a worker and seriously injured a second

In 2012 DuPont was fined $165,000 for violating the Clean Air Act

In 2014, DuPont was fined $440,000 for violating the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act

There are simple solutions that would reduce emissions at DuPont.  But DuPont is refusing to invest in this technology. This is unacceptable. 

We think Tonawanda residents and DuPont workers deserve better.

Our elected officials agree! Read letters of support from NY Senator Marc Panepinto, Erie County Legislator’s Kevin Hardwick and Peter Savage and City of Tonawanda Mayor Rick Davis and City of Tonawanda Councilwoman Jenna Koch.

If you agree – take a picture or post on social media

#DoMoreDuPont

Community Control over Public Dollar$ is the culmination of the work done by the City Hall PB Committee. The committee was established by a resolution introduced by Councilman LoCurto- which passed unanimously, back in July, 2014 to produce recommendations on how the City of Buffalo may implement a Participatory Budgeting Process and join other cities like Chicago, St. Louis, Boston and NYC.  The Committee was diverse and represented many neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo; like the Community Action Organization (CAO) of Buffalo, the Seneca Babcock Community Center, the Somali- Bantu Community Organization and the University Heights Tool Library. There were also individuals residents in the committee who were appointed by the councilmen.

The Exposition on the 25^th of March is shaping up to be a fun-filled family friendly event where members of the committee will get to showcase the work they have been doing and share the committee’s recommendations and where community members will get to learn about the PB process and how it can be implemented right here in Buffalo.

We really hope you can join us! If you have any questions, call our office @852.3813 or email natasha@cacwny.org. Join the event on facebook!

PB Flyer ENG       PB Flyer SPA

“We have to move past the point where your zip code determines the quality of your life,”  stated Virginia Golden, Clean Air member in Slate Magazine in today’s article, America’s Unfair Rules of the Road: How our transportation system discriminates against the most vulnerable, sheds light on people living in Buffalo, New Orleans, Detroit, Johnson County Kansas and other cities who are facing discrimination and racism.

Read the entire article here.