On World Water Day, Faith Leaders Appeal to Cuomo, Town of Torrey re: Greenidge

Calling Fossil Fuel Plant’s Expansion “A Very Real and Present Threat to Seneca Lake”

Seneca Lake, NY- In honor of World Water Day, 35 Faith Leaders throughout the Finger Lakes sent a letter* to Governor Cuomo, stating that they oppose the Greenidge Generation gas-powered facility’s proposed bitcoin expansion plan in the village of Dresden along Seneca Lake- the largest fresh water body solely within NY’s borders- “because such expansion is incompatible with humanity’s call of responsibility to protect and care for creation”.  Religious leaders sent a letter opposing the project to the Town of Torrey Board and Planning Board earlier this month.

“Water and air are the most vital resources for life on earth,” said Reverend Jane Winters, one of the organizers of the Faith Leader’s letter. “We are very concerned about the health and well-being of this body of water, which is already experiencing Harmful Algal Blooms and a decrease in its trout population. Increasing hot water discharges, greenhouse gas emissions, and noise around Seneca Lake is unimaginable, so we felt compelled to urge Governor Cuomo to respond to Greenidge’s threat to the area,” added Winters.

“Camp Whitman is located on Seneca Lake in nearby Penn Yan, and has been a spiritual and foundational resource to Presbyterians and others; strengthening camper’s social and life skills, fostering friendships and developing their Christian faith for generations,” said Reverend Roderic Frohman, a signatory of the letter, and a Presbyterian minister. “An increase in burning fossil fuels now, in the midst of climate change, is something we see as wholly incompatible with our responsibility to care for creation,” said Frohman.

2.2 billion people live without access to clean water. That is 28% of the world’s population, or more than 1 in 4 people, and 2 million of them live in the United States of America.  Seneca Lake serves as a drinking water source for over 100,000 people. Faith leaders are urging others to call Governor Cuomo at 1-518-474-8390 on World Water Day, and ask him to do everything in his power to protect Seneca Lake by intervening in the Greenidge expansion proposal.

*A listing of signatories to the letter is being withheld in an effort to protect Faith Leaders since signatories to other letters regarding opposition to this facility have been contacted by Greenidge.