Let's start with this fact: New York needs more sources of power.
So it's too bad we have to spend so much of our energy on fighting off politicians who have traded in common sense for a green theology hostile to the most practical and affordable energy choices before us.
Case in point: Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the reopening of the Danskammer Generating Facility in Newburgh. The 530-megawatt plant can provide power for up to 500,000 households, so it is an important source of electricity in the state. But the facility was badly damaged in Hurricane Sandy.
Back in March, the plant's owner, Helios Power Capital, formally notified the Public Service Commission that it intends to resume operations at the facility. In late June, the commission gave Helios the go-ahead, reasoning that reopening the plant would help stanch coming rises in electric rates for New York consumers.
Unlike the old plant, which burned coal and oil, the reopened one will rely on natural gas. Indeed, though the PSC agreement would have permitted the plant to burn coal 900 hours per year, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation has prohibited any burning of coal.
Schneiderman hailed this as "a major victory for every New Yorker who shares [his] commitment to fighting for clean air."
A "major victory"? Is he kidding? If Schneiderman and the green lobby had succeeded in their efforts, the Newburgh plant would not be reopening at all. The attorney general fought the approval every step of the way, filing at least three petitions and getting the Department of Environmental Conservation involved.
Fortunately, the Public Service Commission put the needs of ordinary New Yorkers ahead of the activists — and declined Schneiderman's requests to use his subpoena powers to investigate the plant.
Unfortunately, Schneiderman is not alone. His stalling tactics are all too indicative of the indifference to ensuring a steady supply of affordable energy for New Yorkers found among so many of the state's top politicians.
In this Schneiderman takes after Andrew Cuomo. Though not directly involved in the case of the Newburgh facility, the governor continues to hold up fracking and wants to shut down the Indian Point nuclear-power plant in Westchester.
Which makes us think: If only someone would come up with a new technology that would allow New Yorkers to harness the hot air of our politicians. That would give us more electricity than Saudi Arabia has oil.
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