Cuomo Calling for PSC to Investigate NRG's Decision to Mothball Dunkirk Plant

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. Cuomo has 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. WDOE News asked the Governor about the letter when he met briefly with reporters earlier today...

Andrew Cuomo on letter to PSC

NRG had planned to convert the 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's reaction from NRG spokesman David Gaier:

NRG stands behind everything we’ve done to support the grid and provide ratepayers in New York with reliable power under agreements at the price approved by the state in advance. We’ve been partners with New Yorkers in delivering reliable energy since 1999. We employ hundreds of workers in New York, pay tens of millions in taxes annually in New York, and have made more than a billion dollars of investments in New York. And in fact, NRG and the NY PSC are jointly defending ourselves against the lawsuit that halted development on the Dunkirk project.  We look forward to working with the Governor and the Public Service Commission to resolve these issues to everyone’s satisfaction.

Photo by Dave Rowley