February 2021 Environmental Action Update

Nuclear Power is NOT a Climate Solution

Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) has produced an animated video clearly demonstrating why nuclear power is not the climate change solution that some make it out to be. In fact, aside from fossil fuels, nuclear power would be the worst among choices available to us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0poNgL57kc


Danskammer: Isn’t it worth getting it right?

Scenic Hudson has developed a wonderful presentation detailing an alternative use for the site that Danskammer Energy has proposed for a facility that would burn fracked gas far into the future. This site, located on the west shore of the Hudson just north of Newburgh, has exactly the infrastructure to make it a perfect area for a large battery storage facility to help ensure a green energy future. Here are their webinars and reports to learn all about it.


See also:

Great news from Westchester County: Last night (2/8/21) the Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously passed a memorializing resolution opposing the Danskammer Expansion, joining 27 others throughout the region. See: www.westchesterlegislators.com/latest-news/3149-westchester-legislators-formally-oppose-power-plant-expansion-on-hudson

Low Impact Hydroelectric: Clearwater Environmental Action Director Manna Jo Greene and Board member Gareth Hougham (who also serves as Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Stream Conservancy) offered a very informative presentation on Low Impact Hydropower for the Friends of New York City Sloop Club. It details some of what we are studying on Low Impact Hydropower in preparation to convene a consensus-building roundtable discussion on this important issue. https://youtu.be/8D1u-Azoo3k Gareth’s Slides.

Public Hearing urgently needed on Indian Point License Transfer: To address the widespread call for a comprehensive public hearing, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has proposed an excellent amendment, but to a very disappointing piece of legislation, the Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020. Clearwater would much prefer this amendment to be installed on a better bill, or as a stand-alone piece of legislation in its own right, so that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will start to operate in a fashion that is conducive to building public trust by holding a hearing on the Indian Point license transfer. This should also apply to all future License Transfer Applications.

https://midhudsonnews.com/2020/12/05/gillibrand-files-nuclear-bill-amendment-to-prevent-nuclear-license-transfer-during-pending-adjudication/

Events of Interest:

Thurs., Feb. 11, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Presentation: Finding Common Ground, with Dennis Kucinich, Lester Strong, and Dior Williams. Mohonk Consultations on Zoom. For more information, visit https://mohonk-consultations.org/news/finding-common-ground/

Thurs., Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. Sachem Hawkstorm hereditary sachem (chief) of the Schaghticoke People. Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition. See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sachem-hawkstorm-hudson-valley-environmental-justice-coalition-tickets-137611257977

Fri., Feb 19, 12:00 PM. “Long Island Solar Roadmap” — a Climate Conversation in partnership with Sustainable Hudson Valley, free via Zoom. With Jessica Price, Renewable Energy Strategy Lead for the Nature Conservancy in New York, this event will highlight a framework for reconciling solar development and land protection in Long Island. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsduqprDsrHdGYNAs1_WC-vc090_7Ym095

Weds., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. A Just Transition to 100% Renewable New York with NYS Senator Pete Harckham and others. Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G_MysBYeTbWKmUj6P1ffxQ