The Erie County Legislature's Energy and Environment Committee unanimously voiced its support for the NRG Energy Corporation's $1.5 billion proposed upgrade to the CR Huntley Generating Station in the Town of Tonawanda at its September 21 meeting.

The resolution, sponsored by Legislature Chairperson Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda), Committee Chairman Legislator Thomas Loughran (D-Amherst, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga) and Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore, Tonawanda), commends NRG for the proposed update to the Huntley plant to improve environmental conditions and reduce emissions.

It also asks that NRG consider linking the proposed upgrade with the Erie County Workforce Investment Board for possible job training and retraining initiatives, with Erie Community College for educational and/or training collaborations, and with the Erie County Industrial Development Agency for incentives to move the noteworthy project forward.

"This proposed $1.5 billion upgrade by NRG of the Huntley Generating Station is a win, win, win situation. The proposed upgrade to a clean-coal power plant will create jobs and commerce for Erie County and reduce harmful emissions," Legislator Loughran said. "The new plant will utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, including the installation of modern emission control equipment on two Huntley units that have been concerns in controlling harmful pollutants in the past, which will help ensure its financial viability."

"Clean power and the secure employment of 131 current employees of the Huntley Generating Station, as well as the creation of about 100 new jobs and about 1,000 construction jobs, are projected for this upgrade. This is a very positive and serious proposal for NRG, Tonawanda and Erie County," Chairperson Marinelli said. "A new power plant is also proposed for the 120-acre site, utilizing 'Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC),' a technology used to convert coal into combustible gas, with the resulting byproducts cleaned and resold for other industrial and construction uses."

"When the new IGCC plant comes on line, scheduled for 2012, combined with the existing two upgraded coal-fueled units, generating capacity will nearly double, from 552 megawatts today to 1,010 megawatts," Legislator Iannello said.

"The County Legislature is also asking NRG to optimize local economic development by maximizing the construction employment opportunities through an exemplary local construction trades workforce (and) economic development opportunities through local marketing of IGCC byproducts," Legislator Loughran said. "The County Legislature also urges support for federal tax credits from the U.S. Department of Energy, Empire Zone and other New York State incentives."

The cooperation between state and federal officials, as well as members of Local #97 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, with NRG to work together to advance this initiative was applauded by the County Legislature.

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