Another sign of NRG Energy Inc. commitment to Dunkirk emerged last week when the company unofficially announced its plans to turn to natural gas.
In a filing with the New York's Energy Highway Task Force, NRG revealed plans to convert their sites in the coming years. If the plan is accepted, it could mean having NRG and the Dunkirk generating station as a part of the Western New York economic engine through 2030.
"NRG remains committed to finding ways to work with Chautauqua County to use this resource and develop new resources," Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards said last week. "Having this natural gas pipeline and a brand new natural gas plant while the current one is used as a coal plant, or as a co-generation plant while the new one is being built, is absolutely tremendous news for Chautauqua County."
Besides having the proposal approved, NRG also will need some funding assistance from New York state to make the change happen. All told, the proposal for the plants is likely to cost upwards of $700 million.
That's a major investment - and one this area cannot afford to lose out on.
