Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The NRG Power Plant in Dunkirk, in Chautauqua County, has been sitting idle for nearly 10 years.
But at a time when energy bills seem to be sucking the life out of Western New Yorkers, there is a push to re-start the plant.
"This could make a huge difference here in Western New York," said New York State Senator George Borrello on WBEN Wednesday.
"We are importing more power in New York State than we ever have. On high demand days, we are importing more power than we generate. Western New York used to be energy independent. It was inexpensive and reliable." "Now, Borrello added, "you're seeing the impact of having to import power from other places on our energy bills."
Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor of Westfield, are leading the charge to repower the plant.
Borrello said because of all of the infrastructure required for all of the green energy projects the state has launched, delivery charges continue to go up.
"These solar panel fields are coming up like mushrooms overnight. The cost to connect those things to the grid is being borne by ratepayers through delivery charges. This is bad energy policy and a self created energy crisis.," he explained.
Dunkirk has been talked about as an area where nuclear power could be an option.
Borrello said as the former Chautauqua County Executive, he did a study on the best use for the facility. It was determined to be to repower it with natural gas which could be done in 18 months to two years.
He added that nuclear power is long down the road, at last ten to twenty years away.