Governor Andrew Cuomo is asking the state Public Service Commission to investigate NRG Energy and the reasons behind its decision to mothball the Dunkirk plant, rather than move ahead with the re-powering project. The Buffalo News reports that Cuomo sent a letter to PSC Chairwoman Aubrey Zibelman seeking the investigation. He indicated in the letter that he has "grave concerns about NRG's behavior" in the state's wholesale power market and its impact on the state. The company is currently moth-balling the plant. NRG had planned to convert he plant to run on natural gas and received PSC approval in June of 2014. NRG says a lawsuit by rival Entergy is holding up the project.
Here is reaction from NRG spokesman David Gaier:
NRG has seen a copy of the Governor’s letter and is very surprised by the Governor’s attack, which directly contradicts the facts. NRG’s Dunkirk facility kept the lights on in Western New York for the past two years, based on a 2012 contract approved by the Governor’s own Public Service Commission. Over that time our Dunkirk employees delivered near flawless performance—at the price agreed to in advance by the state. NRG has invested in the Dunkirk facility and the local community, and we made more than $16 million in property tax payments over the past two years. We stand by everything we’ve done to support the power grid and ratepayers in Western New York. We’ll respond more fully in the days ahead with the facts.