The plant was tested in February but has not generated
any electricity
ALBANY – Legislation that would require the Department of Environmental Conservation to revoke any and all permits connected to officials convicted of a state or federal crime has been introduced by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, Forestburgh).
The effort stems from the criminal convictions of people involved with the CPV power plant in Wawayanda.
“There’s a reason why we have a permitting process,” said Gunther. “These permits exist to protect the environment and, by extension, public health.”
Gunther noted that current regulations allow the DEC to revoke a permit if the project is in violation of environmental conservation law or regulation, but it does not speak to a violation of any other state or federal law, including corruption.
Current law allows the DEC to revoke permits but does not require it.
Gunther’s bill would require the DEC to clarify its regulations to revoke any permit if the permittee is in violation of any state or federal law, or if it violated a state or federal law during the application process, including corruption.
The Protect Orange County group headed by Pramilla Malik has been in the forefront
of the call to pull CPV permits. In recent months, a number of county officials
have called on the DEC to pull the project permits.
