The Honorable Andrew M.

Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NY State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

September 19, 2017

Subject: Empire State Plaza new power generation facility

Dear Governor Cuomo:

It has come to our attention that a 16 megawatt microgrid and co-generation power plant has been proposed for the
Empire State Plaza. We call on the Department of Environmental Conservation to spearhead a full Environmental
Impact Statement for the proposed project. We also urge you to issue a Request for Proposals for an alternative that
is powered by renewables. The state should work with members of this coalition who are leaders in the community.

We applaud your efforts to look for solutions in this time of climate crisis and extreme weather events exacerbated
by greenhouse gas emissions. State action to uphold the Paris global climate agreement would be a welcomed relief
compared to recent national policies. Additionally, we appreciate the bold statement in your 2017 State of the State
address that New York must double down by investing in the fight against dirty fossil fuels and fracked gas from
neighboring states.

This is why we, the undersigned coalition, urge you to pursue a project that powers the Empire State Plaza with
renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels. New York State exhibited global leadership on December 17, 2014, when
you banned high-volume hydraulic fracturing. However, this 16 megawatt power plant, as currently proposed, would
run on natural gas extracted through fracking, a practice you explicitly banned. In fact, it would make the Empire State
Plaza more dependent on fracked gas for electricity than today. New York can and should do better.

Furthermore, the proposed power plant would be sited in Sheridan Hollow, a neighborhood with a history of adverse
health impacts from the ANSWERS plant in the 1990's and other industrial activities. As proposed, it would subject
this environmental justice community to air pollution from two 11,000 horsepower gas-fired turbines for years to
come. Again, New York can and should do better.

This is a project for which renewable energy and efficiency retrofitting must be considered in detail.
Building a new fossil fuel power plant that we would be saddled with for decades undermines your own renewable
energy goals for the state.

Thank you for hearing our concerns. The undersigned organizations welcome the opportunity to work with your
office to make Albany a national showcase for resilient, renewable, and responsible energy. Please dont hesitate
to reach out to us at sheridanhollow@gmail.com with any questions or for further discussion.

Cc: Richard Kauffman, Chair, New York State Energy Research Development Authority
Cc: Alicia Barton, President and CEO, New York State Energy and Research Development Authority
Cc: Basil Seggos, Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Sincerely,

Hon. Dorcey Applyrs Hon. Kelly Kimbrough,

Albany Common Council Member Albany Common Council Member

Hon. Doug Bullock Hon. Judd Krasher

Albany County Legislator Albany Common Council Member

Hon. Frank Commisso Jr. Hon. Kerin Rigney

Albany Common Council Member Councilor, Town of DeWitt

Hon. Samuel I. Fein Hon. Merton D. Simpson

Albany County Legislator Albany County Legislator

Hon. Leah Golby Hon. Joel Tyner

Albany Common Council Member Dutchess County Legislator

350.org Plattsburgh
350Brooklyn Croton Climate Initiative

350NYC Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Albany Common Council Member Elect Joyce Love Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance

Albany NAACP ECHO Action NH: #FossilFree603

All Our Energy Elmirans and Friends Against Fracking

Alliance for a Green Economy Environmental Club (John Jay College)
Arbor Hill Development Corporation Environmental Education Fund
Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition Environmental Justice Task Force of WNY Peace
Center
Bronx Climate Justice North
Environmental Task Force of First Unitarian Church
Campaign for Renewable Energy
Food & Water Watch
Capital District Against Fracking
Fossil Free Tompkins
Catskill Mountainkeeper
Frack Free Genesee
Citizen Action of New York
FrackBusters NY
Citizen Action of New York - Capital District Chapter
Friends (Quakers) in Unity with Nature (FUN)
Citizens for Local Power
Gas Free Seneca
Citizens' Environmental Coalition
Green Education and Legal Fund
Climate Change Awareness & Action
Green Party of New York State
Climate Justice
Green Sanctuary Committee of the First Unitarian
Climate Justice Committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition
Universalist Society of Albany
ClimateMama
GreeningUSA
Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.
Complete It Cuomo
Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition
Concerned Burlington Neighbors
Interfaith Impact of NYS
Concerned Families of Westchester
Long Island Progressive Coalition Rochester People's Climate Coalition
Mohawk Valley Keeper Sane Energy Project
Mothers Out Front Elmira Chapter Save the Pine Bush
New York Climate Action Group SCRAM
New York Interfaith Power & Light ShaleshockCNY
New York State Nurses Association Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood Association
NH Pipeline Resistance & Roaring Brook Solar Seneca
Affinity Group Solidarity Committee of the Capital District
North American Climate,Conservation Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline
and Environment Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Sustainable Otsego
York Ten Broeck Triangle Preservation League
(NOFA-NY) The Green Sanctuary Committee Community
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, NY Church of New York, UU
Nuclear Information and Resource Service TriStates Unite for Safe Energy
NY Buddhist Climate Action Network United for Action
NY Friends of Clean Air and Water Voters Occupy
NYC Friends of Clearwater We Are Seneca Lake
NYPAN SFL WNY Peace Center
NYPIRG Workers Center of Central NY
NYS Labor-Religion Coalition Working Class Dutchess
Occupy Bergen County
Orange Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines
Otsego 2000, Inc.
Otsego Neighbors
Our Revolution Cayuga County
PAUSE - People of Albany United for Safe Energy
PEER/NYPAN
People for a Healthy Environment, Inc.
People, Not Pipelines
People's Climate Movement- Capital Region
Pepacton Institute LLC
Popular Resistance
Principled Progressives of Orange County
Protect Orange County
Protecting Our Waters
PUSH Buffalo
RAFT - Residents Allied for the Future of Tioga