Erie County lawmaker commends choice of Huntley

Grand Island Dispatch, December 29, 2006

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, D-Buffalo, Tonawanda, is commending the decision of the New York Power Authority to grant conditional backing to the Huntley NRG Energy Station to build a new clean-coal power plant at its Town of Tonawanda site.

Huntley and NRG have been designated the apparent winner among five contenders across New York for the state’s approval to develop the clean-coal power plant.

“This is the kind of development we in the county Legislature are supporting,” Marinelli said. “The Legislature unanimously approved a resolution advocating Huntley’s and NRG’s clean-coal plant proposal earlier this year,” she said.

“Not only will the Huntley/NRG clean-coal plant lessen emissions through new technology, the project is expected to create about 1,000 construction jobs and 100 good-paying, permanent full-time jobs,” Marinelli said.

Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Tonawanda, Grand Island, also expressed her strong support of the choice. “This … project is very important to Tonawanda, Erie County and Western New York, as well as to the development and preservation of the Lake Erie waterfront,” she said.

The Grand Island Town Board also has gone on record in support of the Huntley plant as a strong opportunity to enhance the Western New York economy.