MAYVILLE - Several county office buildings will have hard copies of the NRG petition available for residents to sign.
The PowerUpWNY Coalition launched this petition to gain support for NRG Energy Inc.'s proposed Dunkirk Repowering Project. The project would replace existing coal units with combined cycle gas turbines that would allow the plant to operate solely on natural gas by 2017.
More than 800 people have signed the petition urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the NY Energy Highway Task Force to approve the project and the coalition is working to reach its goal of 3,000 supporters by the end of October.
"The project has gained a lot of support in the Dunkirk area, but this is not solely a Dunkirk issue," said County Executive Greg Edwards. "NRG is the largest taxpayer in Chautauqua County and its operations have a large impact on Chautauqua County and Western New York as the approval of their project by the state would preserve jobs, create jobs, provide electricity for residents and businesses, ensure a stable and predictable tax base, and protect our environment by reducing emissions and improving air quality."
In an effort to reach more residents, the petition will now be available at the following six county offices:
Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, 200 Harrison St., Jamestown, NY 14701;
Department of Motor Vehicles, South County Office Building, 110 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, NY 14701;
Department of Motor Vehicles, Hall R. Clothier Building, 5 N. Erie St., Mayville, NY 14757;
Office for the Aging, 610 W. Third St., Jamestown, NY 14701; and
Veterans Service Agency, 610 W. Third St., Jamestown, NY 14701.
The petition will be available until Saturday. Residents are asked to stop in and sign the petition or visit powerupwny.org to sign the petition online.
To offer the petition at a business, call Edwards' office at 753-4211.