ABOUT
About the Site
The NRG Power Plant is in the City of Dunkirk, New York, along the shorelines of Lake Erie. The NRG Power Plant was a coal-fired power plant originally constructed in the early 1950s. In 2016, the site formerly known as the Niagara Mohawk Power Plant, ceased operation. The decommissioning process then began in 2020. The City of Dunkirk has conducted a feasibility study to strategically determine site reuse alternatives that will catalyze community revitalization efforts. The city is now looking to redevelop the NRG Power Plant site based on the feasibility study's findings. Out of the several alternatives studied, the preferred reuse concepts are to develop a data center or another industrial use such as a business park or data facility.
As the City of Dunkirk focuses on revitalization of its community and economy, the redevelopment of the NRG Power Plant is extremely important to the revival of the city. The NRG Power Plant once contributed greatly to the city's economy. At its peak the NRG Plant was contributing about 40% of the city's tax base and provided close to 150 well-paying jobs. The redevelopment of the NRG Power Plant would promote economic growth, workforce development, and renewable energy opportunities.
About the Site
The NRG Power Plant Site consists of two parcels. The larger parcel is owned by NRG Energy, Inc and the smaller parcel within the center, contains an electrical switchyard owned by National Grid. Due to the site's location, rail, Interstate-90, and water transportation options are easily accessible, with multiple large distribution markets nearby as well. Just 5 miles away from the site is a landfill owned by NRG and Recycled Materials LLC, creating potential opportunities to align site reuse with landfill reuse or continued use. The NRG Power Plant site is also located in a federally designated Opportunity Zone, contributing to the benefits of redevelopment.
Site History
1950
Niagara Mohawk Power Plant is constructed and operating begins for Units 1 + 2.
1959
Units 3 + 4 are added. The plant now outputs 635 MW of power and is one of the largest coal power plants in the world.
2014
NYS Public Service Commission (PSC)
approves of NRG and National Grid's plans to repower.
2015
NRG ceases operations on December 31, 2015.
2018
NRG withdraws application to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) to move forward with interconnection process.
2020
Decommissioning of the NRG Power Plant begins.
1999
2016
2022
NRG purchases the Power Plant.
City of Dunkirk accepted into NYSERDA's Just Transitions Program.
2013
NRG announces plans to convert three out of four coal-fired units to natural gas after having plans to mothball in 2012.
NRG loses interconnectivity rights and anticipates up to $114 million to establish the interconnection and complete necessary upgrades.
A Phase I Site Assessment is completed.
2024
Phase II to be completed at the end of 2024.
Govenor Cuomo announces the state's plan to phase out coal in New York State by the end of 2020.
Existing Conditions
The NRG Power Plant is approximately 76 acres in size, between the City of Dunkirk Harbor, Cedar Beach and Point Gratiot Beach on Lake Erie. Zoned M-2 General Industrial, the NRG Power Plant is located adjacent to residential uses to the west with commercial and residential uses to the south. The site contains the infrastructure of 4 generating units that once produced approximately 635 MW of power: two 100 MW units and two 218 MW units. The site contains, coal storage areas to the east of the plant, three ash ponds, maintenance and parking facilities, including an operational National Grid electrical switchyard in the center of the property. CSX rail lines travel along the along the southern edge of the property and connect to the site's structure, as well as on-site dock access with barge unloading capabilities.
