Stop Hughes Energy’s Proposed Waste Plant

Hughes Energy Group is proposing a disastrous waste-to-fuel facility at the edge of our forever-wild Catskills forests—and uphill from the drinking water of 9 million+ New Yorkers.

The DEC Received 755 Public Comments!

As of November 30, 2021, the NYDEC issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Final Scoping Outline.
Despite Hughes Energy’s refusal to extend the Public Comment Period, the DEC received and reviewed 755 public comments and according to the DEIS, the final scope incorporates the substantive public input they received.

The Problem

A for-profit company is proposing a 124,500 sq ft industrial waste-to-fuel plant straddling the border of Delaware and Greene counties. The 7-story proposed plant sited on a rural 40-acre parcel in Grand Gorge, NY would truck in and process up to 175,000 tons of municipal waste per year to be turned into fiber and burnable pellets through an unproven autoclave steam process. 

This watershed-threatening facility would add significant traffic, noise, air pollution and water infrastructure burdens to our communities and fragile ecosystems by importing unregulated waste from a 50-mile radius. 

This would be the first-ever plant of its kind and scale in the United States.

 As a community we refuse to be the testing ground.

The Proposed Site

This architect’s rendering of the proposed plant was generated using Hughes Energy’s own specifications as outlined in their proposal to the DEC. It offers a sobering view of how a facility of this scale could impact the quality of life in our community and threaten our safety. Read More →

 Our Concerns

There are a number of significant risks and red flags surrounding this project including:

Environmental Impact + Our Drinking Water

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The site is partially on wetlands and uphill from a reservoir that supplies drinking water to millions of New Yorkers (including NYC). This project has the potential to spew harmful microparticles into our soil, air, water and wildlife, which will affect our microclimates, food, and farmlands.

Significant Cultural Risks

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The majority of this facility will be built on untouched land in the heart of a historic area with several important cultural sites/landmarks including the Hardenbourgh Manor, historic cemeteries, Johnson Hollow springs, and near the Gilboa fossils discovery site.

Economic Consequences

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As a deeply rural area, unspoiled nature is the greatest resource for us to protect. A massive industrial plant operating 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year would adversely affect our quality of life, property values, and create a Stigma Zone for long-term residents.

Infrastructure + Safety Issues

The long-term health and safety risks associated with this technology are unknown. Additionally, our towns lack hospitals, our fire departments are volunteer, and our hilly two-lane roads are narrow and run dangerously close to houses, cyclists, wildlife, and children.

Take Action!
Your voice matters.

We are closely monitoring the DEC for any update on their review of the Hughes Environmental Impact Statement. There will be another public comment period - but we don’t know when. Please join our mailing list so we can reach you quickly when the next comment period opens.

1. Read the November 30, 2021 Scoping Outline

2. Sign our original petition

3. Follow us on Social

4. Volunteer! Email us to learn more.

5. Sign our mailing list to stay informed:

Voices from the Community

  • "We cannot have this in our neighborhood! Our roads cannot handle the amount of the trucks, the impact to wildlife and our waterways would be catastrophic."

    —Sharon B., Roxbury, NY

  • “This area is wonderful, it’s wonderful without any big factories or any huge trucks zooming by. Every con about this project heavily outweighs the pros.”

    —Rowan K., Grand Gorge, NY

  • “This is my hometown. I work in the trash industry and know the effects of all the truck traffic. The smell, the small pieces of garbage that can come from the tractor trailers and other vehicles. Please don't let this happen in this small community.”

    — Michael C., Shippensburg, PA

  • "The only responsible way to deal with garbage is within a Zero Waste framework... Dirty, energy intensive projects will only trash our communities, air, water, and climate. We need to do the right thing and stop trash at its source, rather than falling for magical schemes."

    —Tracy F., Greenwich, NY

  • "I live in New Kingston and this proposal will damage this protected land and our community. We need to protect the reservoir, wildlife and nature in the Catskills. Our small communities and towns are not equipped to deal with the huge impact of building and running a facility like this."

    —Guadalupe G., New Kingston, NY

  • "I can’t imagine this type of facility in a rural, residential area. The Rockland proposal failed because of the impact it would have on the local roads and environment. The same applies here and this facility needs to be placed in an area that can support it; an industrial park!"

    —Paula H., New City, NY

  • "This is not the place for such an operation. Too remote with a heavy impact on wetlands and an increase in heavy truck traffic utilizing an arm of the trucking industry (solid waste hauling) notorious for such strenuous driver demands that public safety becomes an issue."

    —Kevin W. , Windham, NY