DELHI - Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand Wednesday announced that she sent a letter to the Commissioner of New York City Department of Environmental Protection Emily Lloyd urging her office to work with Delaware County Electric Cooperative to move forward with a proposal to develop hydroelectric dams on the watershed reservoirs. 

The proposal, which the Cooperative recently submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for consideration, would develop hydroelectric dams to generate clean, renewable energy from the release of the reservoirs that would provide the local communities with low-cost electricity.

“It is my hope that the commissioner will act without delay, and endorse this critical economic development project,” said Gillibrand, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.  “The watershed communities are the stewards for the majority of New York City’s water supply, and that responsibility has come with little economic benefit and many limitations on development in the region.  This proposal is the perfect opportunity for the City to show the people of the watershed communities that they don’t take their pristine water for granted.”