Letter to the Editor: Waste to energy argument doesn’t hold up

New York is at a crossroads in its waste management crisis. Long Island officials are lobbying Gov. Hochul to classify so-called “waste-to-energy” (WTE) incineration as renewable energy — allowing aging, polluting facilities like Covanta (Reworld) Hempstead to secure subsidies to continue operations. Labeling WTE as renewable energy would reward polluters and harm vulnerable communities. Ms. Hochul must reject falsely classifying WTE as renewable energy.

WTE is neither clean nor renewable, fails to address the root causes of waste and pollution and undermines clean energy goals, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In New York, 12% of greenhouse gas emissions are from waste, and nearly two-thirds of that is from incineration. Burning waste also releases toxic pollutants into the air, water and ecosystems, including carcinogenic dioxins and heavy metals. Moreover, incinerators contribute a negligible 0.3% to the nation’s energy grid, easily replaceable by zero-carbon energy sources.

Covanta (Reworld) Hempstead has repeatedly violated environmental standards. DEC’s failure to conduct in-stack monitoring has left critical gaps in understanding the true extent of pollution from this site. The Town of Brookhaven’s $1 million settlement falls far short of remediating the harm done to the community.

Economic arguments for WTE don’t hold up. According to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, aging municipal solid waste incinerators are prohibitively expensive to maintain, too risky to finance and too costly to upgrade. Viable solutions like plastic use reduction, composting and glass, metal and paper recycling are cheaper, safer and create more jobs. San Francisco diverts 80% of waste from landfills and incinerators, proving a sustainable alternative is possible.

To achieve our climate emission reduction mandates, we must reduce emissions in all industries, including waste. New York must embrace solutions and lead with bold, equitable policies that reduce waste, create jobs and prioritize public health.

- Monique Fitzgerald

Lawsuit alleges DEC improperly exempted Caithness power plant in Yaphank from climate law

Three environmental organizations have filed a state lawsuit alleging the state Department of Environmental Conservation illegally exempted the owners of a Yaphank power plant from a recent state climate law that seeks to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The DEC "abdicated its responsibilities" last year when it approved an air permit for the gas-fired Caithness Long Island Energy Plant without weighing the impact of emissions on local residents, according to the lawsuit.

The suit was filed Wednesday in Nassau County State Supreme Court by the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group, known as BLARG, the Sierra Club and the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

The lawsuit asks the court to rescind the air permit and compensate the plaintiffs for costs incurred by the suit.

The DEC did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

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Groups File Lawsuit Against NYS-DEC and Caithness Gas Plant for CLCPA Violations

January 22, 2025

Today, Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group (BLARG), Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC), and the Sierra Club represented by Earthjustice filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York-Nassau County against the NYS-Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Caithness Long Island LLC, over the unlawful air permit renewal and non-compliance with New York’s landmark climate law.

“The Long Island Progressive Coalition has long advocated for the need for Long Island to transition to clean energy for the sake of our climate and our communities. In the case of Caithness, this is another polluting facility contributing to the poor air quality of North Bellport and surrounding communities. DEC’s decision to ignore the significant impacts of the Caithness gas plant near a disadvantaged community is the last thing we need as we face climate and high asthma emergencies. Long Islanders deserve better, and we’re going to court to force the agency to follow our climate law.” – Monique Fitzgerald, North Bellport resident and Climate Justice Organizer at the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Founding Member of BLARG.

The Caithness Long Island Energy Center, located in Yaphank, is home to the massive gas-burning Caithness power plant — one of the largest single sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the state of New York. The facility emits nearly 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. That is the equivalent to: 235,000 cars driving a total of 2.5 billion miles in one year. In light of the threat to environmental health and public well-being posed by such a large gas plant nestled next to neighborhoods, environmental advocates are calling for the DEC to comply with state-wide mandates to reduce emissions from NY’s power generation and cease continued harm on vulnerable communities.

The surrounding communities, which include North Bellport, Yaphank, Brookhaven, and Shirley, are designated as “disadvantaged communities” under state law and require special consideration under the plain terms of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). These communities have struggled under the burden of air pollution that has contributed to the areas of North Bellport having the lowest life expectancy on Long Island.