WASHINGTON – Both Congressman Maurice Hinchey of Hurley and US Senator Hillary Clinton have called on the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection to move forward on a proposal for the Delaware County Electric Cooperative to develop hydro power facilities at four New York City reservoirs in the Catskills.

Both lawmakers have written to DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd urging her to move the project forward.

The proposal would use the hydro-electricity production capacity at the Schoharie, Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs to create up to 63 MW of new renewable electricity generation, which would serve the needs of more than 20,000 households at peak load.

“This new generation capacity will help New York State meet its growing energy needs in an environmentally sustainable manner while also assisting the state in reaching its ambitious goals for renewable electricity generation,” said Hinchey.

“With gas prices and energy costs skyrocketing it is vitally important that we take initiative to develop real alternative energy solutions to fit our growing demands – and the Delaware County Energy Cooperative has done exactly that to help meet the area’s long term needs,” said Clinton. “This innovative project has the potential to supply clean energy to tens of thousands of homes in the region, and is reflective of the sort of forward thinking we should be encouraging.”