News

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Urgent: We need All Hands On Deck Monday 6/27 11:30 Geneva

Please take an hour of your time to join us at the Gazebo in front of the Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva on Monday June 27th at 11:30 am. We'll be holding a press conference and rally urging Governor Hochul to stop delaying the signing of the bill into law and to deny Greenidge's Title V Air Permit Renewal. We need YOU there, and please bring 100 of your friends.

BREAKING: NYS Senate Passes First in the Nation Cryptomining Moratorium

Watch the Press Conference

We're excited to announce that the NY Senate passed the crypto moratorium bill at 2:00 am today. This was despite the fact that the pro crypto lobby spent millions to oppose it.  A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all who put effort into this victory!!! 

URGENT! Crypto to jeopardize CLCPA - need S6486D passed in Senate!

I am writing with an urgent request for a show of support for S6486D, which would put in place a 2-year moratorium on crypto mining that is done in fossil fuel power plants and directs DEC to conduct an environmental review.

ICYMI: Gov. Hochul Takes Cryptomining Cash As She Considers Regulations

Governor takes money from cryptomining supporters aligned with anti-gay, anti-abortion, far right Club for Growth, + Cornell Professor’s Op-ed Asks Why Gov. Hochul Is Ignoring Science, Not Pausing Cryptomining to Protect Climate & Uphold NY’s Crucial Climate Goals

NY should follow the science on climate and ban crypto mining

Guest Opinion by Anthony Ingraffea

It’s up to Hochul and the Department of Environmental Conservation to be the leaders on climate they claim to be. They must follow the science, deny Greenidge’s permits, and support a
cryptomining moratorium. Our climate law — and the climate itself — is at stake.

Spring has sprung!

What Seneca Lake Guardian’s been up to

As we ride out upstate New York's Spring weather fluctuations, we wanted to take a moment to catch you up on what Seneca Lake Guardian has been up to, and let me tell you, it's a LOT. Over the past 11 years, we’ve perfected our craft and streamlined our efforts to keep the Finger Lakes fishable, drinkable and swimmable for generations to come!

After months of delay, NY still reviewing 4,000 public comments for Finger Lakes power plant owned by Bitcoin miners

gothamist

At a Monday morning press conference, two Cornell University researchers disclosed that they had reviewed all those comments in less than a week — and found that 98.8% were strongly opposed to renewal of a for-profit power plant running 24/7 with very little public use.

The bitcoin mine vs. the world

Regulating bitcoin mining is a bit like whack-a-mole. But it appears New York regulators are taking their sweet time picking up the padded hammer: For a second time, they’ve punted on air pollution permits for an upstate mine tied to a gas power plant.

Gov Hochul + DEC Punt Decision on Greenidge Generation Air Permits Again

Today, after a previous two-month delay and more than a year of advocacy by residents, business owners, wine makers, environmental activists, and elected officials, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) again pushed back its deadline to make a decision about Greenidge Generation's Title V Air Permit Renewal.

Cryptocurrency critics angry at Hochul over punting air pollution permit decision

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced it would delay a decision for a second time on whether to approve a critical air pollution permit renewal for a controversial cryptocurrency mining operation on the shores of Seneca Lake.
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Call Gov. Hochul Re: Greenidge

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

The Hochul administration has a deadline of March 31 for deciding whether to grant an air quality permit to a fracked gas power plant in the Finger Lakes.

Call Governor Hochul: Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant
866-942-5138
Deadline: Thursday, March 31

Call Governor Hochul:

Stop Bitcoin mining fracked gas power plants

Call Governor Hochul TODAY at 877-235-6537 to urge her to halt Bitcoin mining in New York, starting with the Greenidge power plant on Seneca Lake, and Fortistar power plant proposed for Niagara County.

CALL HOCHUL! Let’s hit 200!

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

We’ve generated 128 calls to Hochul thus far this week.
 
Can we top 200? I think we can!

Countdown to Deadline: Don’t Sit This One Out!

We have until this Friday, January 27th to submit comments to the DEC regarding NY's largest landfill, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Seneca Meadows Landfill was slated to close in 2025, and instead, they've applied for an expansion (seven stories higher than it is now!) and an operating extension through 2040.

DEC Rally

Buses Provided to DEC Headquarters Rally 6/5 2-4

We are offering transportation via bus from Watkins Glen with several pickup stops along the west side of Seneca Lake en route to Avon, NY.

Greenidge Bitcoin Fracked Gas Power Plant

Action Toolkit

Here are some tips and tools to help us fight the expansion of the Greenidge plant.

Help Collect Data on Seneca Lake Fish Health May 29-31

Join us May 29-31 in conducting a fish health survey during the National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake.

Hochul’s DEC Gives Greenidge Crucial Time Window to Expand Bitcoin Mining Before It Rules on Air Permit Renewal

We learned last week that a decision expected at the end of January on the Greenidge facility's Title V Air Permit Renewal has been postponed through March 31st, with the possibility now on the table for a costly and lengthy adjudicatory process which could, in effect, take years. 

Important Actions and Updates

Seneca Lake Guardian has been working extremely hard for the protection of the Finger Lakes, as we're rounding the  bend and expecting a decision from the DEC on Thursday, March 31st on Greenidge's Title V Air Permit. 

Important Actions and Updates on Greenidge Bitcoin Mining Facility

The climate change alarm bells are deafening and we’re seeing the impacts almost daily across the state, country and planet. There are vital actions for you to take in the coming weeks. We need all hands on deck now, if we are to protect our region-and beyond- in the days ahead.
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Help Stop Dirty Garbage Incinerator in the Finger Lakes

Call Today!

With the budget finalized, it's time for the Governor to sign the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act of 2019 into law.  This bill would prohibit the construction of garbage incinerators within the Finger Lakes Watershed.

Deborah Goldberg Environmental Stewardship Scholarship

The Deborah Goldberg Environmental Stewardship Scholarship will be awarded annually to a Finger Lakes High School Senior who is pursuing a career in Environmental Law. 

A Dirty Waste—How Renewable Energy Policies Have Financed the Unsustainable Waste-to-Energy Industry

The end of the 20th Century saw a major shift in the United States’ approach to energy policy. After decades focused on fossil fuel production, the country began to realize that renewable sources of energy were the way of the future. Governments relied on both mandates and tax incentives to encourage the use of energy from sources like solar and wind power. Waste- to-Energy (“WTE”) power is another form of energy production that is classified as renewable. This Note summarizes the WTE pro- cess and the laws that allowed it to grow, argues that WTE is not economical- ly sound or environmentally sustainable, and proposes legislative changes to prevent more harm from WTE in the future.

Seneca Lake Guardian

The Eyes, Ears and Voice Fighting for Clean Water

Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement uniting more than 270 Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates, recently approved a new affiliate, Seneca Lake Guardian. Joseph M Campbell and Yvonne Taylor of Gas Free Seneca are excited to extend their efforts as the Seneca Lake Guardians to protect and preserve Seneca Lake, one of New York's Finger Lakes, by combining their firsthand knowledge of the watershed with an unwavering commitment to the rights of the community.

Hidden emissions

A story from the Netherlands
Case Study

Although presented as state of the art, the youngest incinerator in the Netherlands is far from a clean: long-term tests reveal emissions of dioxin, furan and persistent organic pollutants far beyond the limits.

The case of the REC plant raises important questions for future policy-making concerning waste incineration and its potential effects on public health and the environment.

Letter to Tompkins County

Re: Cayuga Power Plant

Seneca Lake Guardian’s mission is to promote sustainable energy, increase investment in water supply/sewer systems, and to challenge destructive power plants, reckless development and decrepit infrastructure around Seneca Lake and throughout the Finger Lakes Region. As such, we write to urge you to adopt Resolution A, which asks the DEC to categorically deny Cayuga's application to convert to fracked gas, asks the Governor to provide support for transition to renewable energy, acknowledges that Cayuga’s proposal will result in significant environmental impacts, and calls on the DEC to require Cayuga to submit a full Environmental Impact Statement.  

Judge Hears Lawsuits Against Romulus by Incinerator Corporation Circular enerG

Reserves Decisions on all motions

Waterloo, NY- In a packed courtroom, the Honorable Judge Doyle heard two Article 78 proceedings filed against the Town of Romulus by garbage incinerator applicant Circular enerG.

Judge reserves decisions on Romulus incinerator cases

WATERLOO — After listening to oral arguments for about an hour Friday, state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle reserved decisions on two Article 78 proceedings initiated by the company interested in building a trash-burning incinerator in Romulus.

Lawsuits addressed in Romulus trash incinerator hearing

WATERLOO, N.Y (WENY) -- In the Seneca County Courthouse Friday morning, Circular EnerG and the Town of Romulus voiced their sides regarding a potential trash incinerator to coming to the town, at the former Seneca Army Depot. The hearing addressed two lawsuits filed against Romulus by the Rochester-based company challenging a zoning determination, and the town's revised zoning laws. For Circular EnerG, it hopes to come out on top after the ruling. 

INCINERATORS IN TROUBLE

What Are The Problems With Waste Incineration?

Waste incineration is a flawed approach that is expensive, polluting, and inefficient; aging incinerators are causing trouble with toxic emissions, odor, fires, financial insecurity, and environmental injustice.