Recently the New York Independent System Operator, the not-for-profit corporation that manages the electricity grid for all of New York State and administers the wholesale electricity market, established a new “capacity zone” in the lower Hudson Valley, Zone G. This is supposed to ease congestion on power transmission lines from upstate counties to the New York City metropolitan area during times of high demand by incentivizing the production and consumption of power on a more regional basis. It’s also supposed to ease upstate/downstate disparities in the consumer cost of electrical power.
Environmentalists seeking to reduce our carbon footprint and stave off global warming worry that this new structure will make the Hudson Valley a target for the construction of new power plants that burn fossil fuels, especially fracked gas. Resistance to the issuance of permits for such plants can begin at the municipal level. You can learn more at a symposium being organized by the New Paltz Climate Action Coalition and NYPIRG, taking place at SUNY-New Paltz on Wednesday evening, April 17.
Elected officials and energy experts will share information about proposed projects in our area and actions that individuals can take to safeguard their towns against fossil fuel expansion, including advocating for zoning law changes and targeted building moratoriums. Keynote speakers for the event, “Zone Out Fossil Fuel Power Plants,” include state senator Jen Metzger and Hayley Carlock, director of Environmental Advocacy at Scenic Hudson.
The presentation will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., with the informational program commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Coykendall Science Building on the SUNY-New Paltz campus. Admission is free. Attendees are asked to bring their own water bottles in order to help make this a zero-waste event. To reserve a seat, visit https://bit.ly/2uUF3fN.
“Zone Out Fossil Fuel Power Plants”
Wednesday, Apr. 17
6-8:30 p.m.
Free
Coykendall Science Building
SUNY-New Paltz
https://bit.ly/2uUF3fN
Join the family! 
