Evidentiary Hearing - Greenidge Generation LLC

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION NOTICE OF EVIDENTIARY HEARING

Applicant: 

Greenidge Generation LLC
590 Plant Road, PO Box 187
Dresden, NY 14441

Facility: 

Greenidge Generation Station
590 Plant Road
Dresden, NY 14441

Applicant’s Attorney: 

Yvonne Hennessey, Esq.
Barclay Damon LLP
80 State Street
Albany, NY 12207

DEC Application: 

Article 19 Air Title V Facility (ID No. 8-5736-00004/00017)

Project Description: 

Greenidge Generation LLC (Greenidge) filed an application to renew its Title V air permit 8- 57360-00004/00017, effective September 7, 2016, for the continued operation of a natural gas-fired electric generating facility (facility) in the Town of Torrey, Yates County, on Seneca Lake.

The facility is a primarily natural gas-fired electric generating plant, with a generating capacity of approximately 107 megawatts (MW) with a maximum heat input which is limited to 1,117 million BTUs per hour.

The renewal application requests renewal of the existing permit, with revisions limited to:
removal of the diesel fire pump permit conditions because the diesel fire pump has been taken out of service and removed from the facility, and minor revisions to the monitoring requirements for particulate emissions (PM-10, PM-2.5 and Particulates), which includes the use of a flowmeter for the facility to demonstrate continuous compliance with the existing PM-10, PM-2.5 and Particulates permit conditions.

Proceedings:

On September 8, 2021, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC or Department) issued a combined notice titled, Notice of Complete Application, Availability of Draft Permits and Announcement of Virtual Legislative Public Comment Hearings, in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) commencing the public review and comment period for the referenced permit and associated application materials.

Virtual legislative public comment hearings were held on October 13, 2021. The DEC Division of Environmental Permits denied the renewal request on June 30, 2022, pursuant to title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York (6 NYCRR) 621.10(f). The denial was based on the determination that the facility’s continued operation would be inconsistent with or would interfere with the attainment of the Statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limits established in article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law

(Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) and reflected in 6 NYCRR Part 496. On July 28, 2022, Greenidge Generation, LLC filed a hearing request on the denial.

The Department Office of Hearings and Mediation Services (OHMS) held virtual public comment hearings on October 24, 2022 and an issues conference on December 8, 2022 and January 4, 2023. On September 13, 2023, the administrative law judge (ALJ) issued a ruling granting party status to petitioners Seneca Lake Guardian, The Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes, Fossil Free Tompkins, and Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter, and ruling that an evidentiary hearing would be held. For more details, see https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/greenidgeid.pdf.

Current Notice: 

This Notice serves to provide the parties and the public notification that the Department will hold an evidentiary hearing.

SEQRA Status: 

In its role as Lead Agency under SEQRA (ECL article 8 [State Environmental Quality Review Act]), Department staff determined the proposed project to be a Type II Action as described under 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(32) because it is a permit renewal application.

Document Availability: 

Filed application documents, draft permit, and notice of denial are available for review at https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/notable-projects-documentation/greenridge-generation-station. For further information, contact Scott Sheeley, Chief Permit Administrator, NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1750, Phone: (518) 402-9167, E-mail: [email protected] 

Statutory and Regulatory Provisions: This proceeding is being conducted according to ECL article 3, title 3 (General Functions), ECL article 19 (Air Pollution Control), ECL article 70 (Uniform Procedures), ECL article 75 (CLCPA); 6 NYCRR part 621 (Uniform Procedures), part 624 (Permit Hearing Procedures), and part 201-6 (Air Title V); and 40 CFR 72 through 78.

Hearing Date and Time:

Hearing held in abeyance pending resolution of stipulation.

Hearing Location:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany NY 12233

Parties and members of the public wishing to observe the hearing should check in with photo identification at the security desk on the first floor to obtain a visitor pass and to be directed to the hearing room.

Pursuant to Section 301 of the State Administrative Procedures Act, any party may request a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings and testimony to any deaf person who is to appear for the hearing as a party or witness, at no charge. Requests for interpreter services for the deaf should be submitted at least ten calendar days before the hearing to: NYSDEC, Office of Hearings and Mediation Services, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-1550, e-mail ([email protected]), or phone (518) 402-9003.

Elizabeth Phillips
Administrative Law Judge
May 7, 2025 - Amended June 26, 2025
Albany, New York