Officials say reopening facility would restore reliability, lower costs and revive local economy
From the Office of NY State Senator George Borrello,
Standing near the Dunkirk Pier with the idled NRG power plant as a backdrop, State Senator George Borrello, Congressman Nick Langworthy and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor today called on Governor Kathy Hochul to support repowering the former NRG facility and restore reliable, affordable energy generation to Western New York.
“This is a fully built power plant sitting idle while New Yorkers pay some of the highest electricity rates in the nation and the state spends billions importing power from other states and Canada,” said Senator Borrello. “That is not an energy strategy; it is a failure of leadership.”
The NRG plant operated for more than 60 years in Dunkirk. Before its closure, the facility was paying nearly $10 million annually in local tax revenue, including $4 million to the City of Dunkirk. In 2013, then-Governor Cuomo pledged to repower the facility and convert it to natural gas, but that effort ultimately stalled after his administration abandoned the plan under pressure from environmental activists.
Officials noted that New York’s Independent System Operator (NYISO) has warned of mounting reliability challenges as aging plants retire faster than new generation can be built and as electricity demand rises from new manufacturing and data centers. Senator Borrello pointed to recent testimony from state energy officials acknowledging that current policies cannot meet the state’s energy needs on their own.
“At recent budget hearings, I asked officials from NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority whether New York can realistically power the state under current policies, and their answer made clear that fuel-based generation will remain necessary,” said Senator Borrello. “Even the Governor’s own draft energy plan acknowledges the need for a balanced energy portfolio that includes natural gas for the foreseeable future. That makes it clear that repowering facilities like Dunkirk must be part of the solution.”
Congressman Nick Langworthy emphasized the urgent need to restore reliable energy generation in New York.
“Across Chautauqua County and throughout upstate New York, families are struggling to afford their energy bills because Albany’s extreme policies have prioritized unrealistic electrification mandates over reliability and affordability,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Energy demand is rising rapidly — driven by data centers, manufacturing and everyday use — yet the state continues to shut down reliable power generation and restrict natural gas supply. You cannot remove dependable energy from the grid while demand is growing and expect costs to fall or reliability to improve. Repowering this facility is a common-sense solution that would strengthen our grid, lower costs and help restore energy security for New Yorkers.”
Congressman Langworthy also highlighted federal efforts to protect access to reliable energy. He recently introduced the bipartisan Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699) to prohibit states and local governments from banning or restricting access to specific energy sources, including natural gas. The legislation is intended to ensure consumers and businesses retain access to affordable, reliable energy and prevent policies that undermine grid stability.
Assemblyman Andrew Molitor pointed out the glaring contradictions in New York’s current energy policy.
“New York likes to virtue signal to the world about not using our own abundant energy resources, while quietly importing coal-fired power and natural gas from other states and even other countries. That makes no sense. In the rush to implement sweeping energy mandates without a clear reliability or affordability plan, we’ve lost more than 4,000 megawatts of dependable power in just the last few years. New Yorkers are paying the price in the form of sky-high utility bills,” he said.
“We saw it firsthand during a recent winter storm; solar was buried under snow, wind wasn’t enough to meet demand, and the state had to scramble to buy premium power at extremely high prices. When you shut down reliable plants before replacing them, costs go up. Who tears down a bridge before building a new one?
“The Governor says she supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy. We agree. That means using the reliable, affordable natural gas resources we already have. Repowering facilities like Dunkirk is a practical, immediate step to strengthen our grid and lower costs. Now is the time to act,” said Assemblyman Molitor.
