Cleaning Up the Danskammer Coal-Fired Power Plant

Regional Office / Program

Case Overview

The Danskammer Plant, located along the shore of the Hudson River in the town of Newburgh, New York, has been responsible for more toxic pollution than nearly all of the total 646 industrial sites in the state and numerous violations of federal air quality standards. According to EPA data, in 2009, the Danskammer plant dumped more than 1.5 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Newburgh’s air, land, and water.

One of New York state’s oldest and dirtiest coal plants, the Danskammer Plant has been shut down since October 2012.

The Sierra Club, NPCA, and Earthjustice took action in 2012 to demand modern pollution controls at the plant that would limit harmful air pollution. In December 2012, the plant’s then-owner, Dynegy Inc., announced it was selling the plant in bankruptcy proceedings and the plant would be torn down following its sale. But in November 2013, new owner Helios Power Capital indicated that it is evaluating the possibility of bringing the plant back into operation.

The groups are moving to revive an earlier lawsuit to ensure the plant doesn’t reopen.

The Danskammer Plant is located along the shore of New York's Hudson River.

Case Updates

June 20, 2024 In the News: WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Danskammer withdraws permit application for Newburgh generation facility

Melissa Legge, Attorney, Clean Energy Program: “The decision shows how the courts and the Department of Environmental Conservation are upholding that law and enforcing that law. New York does not need any more gas plants like Danskammer. What New York needs is renewables like solar and wind to come online and battery storage in order to reduce pollution and decarbonize the electric grid in the state.”