17 Dec

Businesses say ‘no’ to gas storage on Seneca Lake

For Immediate release: Thursday, December 17, 2015

For More information, Contact: NYSSBC: Laura Ornstein, 845 202 0591; Chefs for the Marcellus: Hilary Baum, 917 822 9445; Gas Free Seneca Business Coalition, Yvonne Taylor, 607-342-1278

aerial view of seneca lake

Aerial view of Seneca Lake, threatened by proposed gas storage facilities on southwestern shore.

Businesses Call on Governor Cuomo
to Reject Crestwood Gas Storage Facility
in the heart of the Finger Lakes

See Threat to Center of Wine and Tourism and Local Economies

NEW YORK – Today business organizations and business coalitions with thousands of members and partners throughout New York delivered a letter to Governor Cuomo urging him to reject the establishment of Houston-based Crestwood Equity Partners liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industrial storage facility in unlined salt caverns under Seneca Lake, in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region. This facility, if approved by NYS, would enable the development of the largest hub in the Northeast for fracked gas transportation and LPG storage.

The letter expresses alarm about the development’s threat to the Finger Lakes’ future as a multi-billion dollar center of wine, grape production and tourism. It also condemns expansion of the fossil fuel industry at a time when the priority must be transitioning to a clean energy economy.

“Every day, across the country, businesses are taking bold steps to reduce climate change because they recognize the economic and environmental risks of inaction,” said Richard Eidlin, vice president of the American Sustainable Business Council. “We ask that New York’s leaders strengthen the state’s record of taking bold steps to a clean energy economy and say no to fossil fuel companies that continue to dig us deeper into fossil fuel dependence, sacrificing strong, job producing local economies like the Finger Lakes along the way.”

“The natural gas storage facility underneath Seneca Lake is indicative of the crossroads that communities all over New York State are facing,” said Laura Ornstein, coordinator of the New York State Sustainable Business Council. “Like an LNG facility off Long Island’s southern shore or oil trains on the Hudson River, allowing the Northeast’s largest natural gas hub to be developed in the heart of the Finger Lakes isn’t worth the risk to the local economy, community character, and precious water resources. Investment should instead be directed to supporting innovation and job growth in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors.”

Jimmy Carbone, NYC ‘s Jimmy’s 43, Chefs for the Marcellus cofounder, said, “ The Finger Lakes produces great wines, spirits, and food products that restaurants depend on. The Governor has invested plenty in helping build these kinds of business and he should continue. This is the right kind of economic development for the future of New York as a premier wine and food brand.”

“The LPG storage facility is a bad idea — bad for our businesses, bad for tourism, bad for agriculture and bad for the environment,” said Fox Run Vineyards’ Scott Osborn, President of the Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition, “That’s why it’s opposed by over 100 of our member wineries and a combination of 360 Finger Lakes wineries and tourism-related businesses. Governor Cuomo, by rejecting this bad idea you will show that New York is a leader in reducing fossil fuel use and the leader of renewable energy production.”

Signatories of the letter include: The American Sustainable Business Council, Green America, The NYS Sustainable Business Council, the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition, Buffalo First, Chefs for the Marcellus, First Local Ithaca, Northeast Organic Farmers Association of NY (NOFA-NY), Gas-Free Seneca Business Coalition, The Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition, Re-Think Local.

The New York State Sustainable Business Council (NYSSBC) http://nyssbc.org/ is an alliance of business organizations and businesses committed to advancing a vibrant, just, and sustainable economy in the state. The organization promotes strategies and policies designed to build strong local economies, prioritize investment and innovation in clean technologies from green chemistry to renewable energy sources, and advance the development of sustainable communities in New York State.

 The American Sustainable Business Council www.asbcouncil.org advocates for policy change and informs business owners and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, sustainable economy. Through its national member network it represents more than 200,000 businesses and more than 325,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers and investors.