BEACON – Dozens of environmentalists and public officials from both sides of the Hudson River gathered on its banks in Beacon on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the State DEC’s permit denial of the new Danskammer electric power plant in the Town of Newburgh.
Orange County Legislator Kevindaryan-Lujan of the City of Newburgh praised the efforts.
“We made a choice, a really important choice – we said that we were not going to sell out to the fossil fuel companies,” he told the rally.
Dutchess County Legislator Yvette Valdes Smith of Fishkill said air quality in the region will change.
“This area, our beloved Hudson Valley, has some of the lowest air quality in New York State,” she told the rally. “No longer. We say no more.”
Beacon City Councilwoman Paloma Wake said her city is a leader in environmental protection.
“In 2021 we committed to being carbon neutral as a city and has 70 percent of our electricity comes from our solar farms that are here onsite,” she said. “Everything else is paid for by carbon offset.”
Rally-goers chanted “People over profit,” as the event began.
(c) Mid-Hudson News video
