What's Happening Now?

Albany, NY

The Empire's Backyard: Power & Pollution in Sheridan Hollow

2019: For over 100 yrs. residents lived in the shadow of dirty fossil fuel infrastructure projects. Courtesy of A.J. Schneller, Skidmore College.

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  1. Albany, NY
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    46-48 N. Swan Street, Albany, NY

The Problem

NY Gov. Cuomo has proposed converting the Albany NY Solid Waste Energy Recovery System (ANSWERS) to a fracked gas power plant to provide heating-cooling and electricity to the Empire State Plaza. The proposal locks NY into decades of reliance on dirty energy and exacerbates a century of pollution and health ills endured by the community.

The Roots

Between 1911 and 1994 NY State sited a coal power plant and trash incinerator—ANSWERS—in the predominantly Black community of Sheridan Hollow. The air and soils were polluted by toxic ash, resulting in cancer, asthma, and blight. Sheridan Hollow met the criteria for an EJ community as set forth by the State DEC Office of Environmental Justice since the policy was enacted in 2003.

The Solutions

Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE) is a grassroots NGO opposing the Governor’s proposal. Advocating for renewable energy projects that benefit both the residents and Empire State Plaza, it demonstrates how reparations can be realized through a transformed EJ community.

1981–1994: A former garbage incinerator spewed toxic levels of dioxin, lead, chromium, and nickel. Courtesy of Ward Stone NYS DEC Wildlife Pathologist.
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 2009: The NGO Capital Roots is addressing food apartheid with community gardens in Sheridan Hollow. Courtesy of Chip Fasciana.
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1994: NY accused of racism—EJ activists and soot on the governor's mansion closed the incinerator. Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
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2019: Community health issues shouldn’t be exacerbated by additional fossil fuel infrastructure. Courtesy of Sheridan Hollow residents.
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2019: Will Governor Cuomo use budget authority to power the Empire State Plaza with renewable energy? Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
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2018: “We’ll be poisoned slowly, yet more efficiently. We ask that you not poison us.” —Mert Simpson. Courtesy of Erik McGregor.
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Schematic of how renewables could fuel Empire State Plaza to protect communities and our climate. Courtesy of Malcolm Kaletsch.
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Soot. Courtesy of Ward Stone.
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Polluted Garden. Courtesy of Chip Fasciana.
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NY Accused of Environmental Racism. Courtesy of NY Renews and Sane Energy Project.
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Illness in Sheridan Hollow
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Skidmore-Ipad-Video-5-5-Mert-and-Ruth-discuss-Cuomo-proposal.mp4. Courtesy of Food and Water Watch.
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SHARE and Community Mobilization. Courtesy of NY Renews and Sane Energy Project.
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SHARE Alternative Energy Preferences.  Courtesy of Times Union.
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For over 100 years Sheridan Hollow was plagued by one way of thinking: fossil fuel infrastructure. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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Children grew up in the shadow of industrial power plants; these mistakes should not be repeated. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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Parks, access to green spaces, community gardens, and clean air and soils are community amenities. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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Our electricity system is going through the biggest shift in 50 yrs.; natural gas = a bridge to nowhere. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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The US must provide reparations for EJ communities and solve climate injustices locally and globally. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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NY passed the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, reducing GHG emissions 85% by 2050. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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Sheridan Hollow and Empire State Plaza need renewables NOW! Protect citizens, the future, and our climate. Courtesy of Jacob Adams.
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Our Point of View

Studying at a private college that often feels like a bubble, we struggle to apply our concerns to social and environmental justice. Reading case studies and discussing EJ issues is fundamental, but this was our first opportunity to work with a frontline EJ community. We met cancer survivors and those who experience economic and physical distress due to a century of environmental insults in their backyard. Working with Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy has demonstrated the importance of community engagement and staying politically active to advocate for a renewable energy future.

Skidmore College

SHARE is a coalition of community members and local and statewide climate groups working to stop a fracked gas power plant in our environmental justice community. The documentation of our struggle—most notably through the videos of community members discussing their health problems caused by the continued pollution in their neighborhood—reminds us of the human costs of environmental racism, and why our fight is so important. We are motivated by Skidmore students’ enthusiasm in actively joining the fight for clean and renewable energy.

Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE)

Contributors

University Partners

Skidmore College

Community Partners

Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE)