CURRENT STATUS

On January 24 the NYS Public Service Commission issued an unprecedented decision on a Joint Proposal by Suez and PSC Staff for a rate increase and conservation plan. Listening to hundreds of comments from Rockland elected officials and ratepayers, the Commissioners modified the proposal slightly.

Suez will still recover $54 million in planning costs, totally $79 million including interest over 15 years. They also made some changes to the proposed conservation plan. Click HERE to read more.

Click below to read press coverage:

Nyack News and Views
Scenic Hudson
WAMC
The Journal News

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ROCKLAND COUNTY SUES PSC & SUEZ ON DESALINATION CHARGES!

County Executive Ed Day announced on 6/27/16 that the County of Rockland has filed an Article 78 lawsuit in NYS Supreme Court against the PSC and Suez. The suit claims that the PSC failed to verify all of the charges Suez presented related to planning costs for the failed desal plant which never started construction and that these charges are not just and reasonable.

CLICK HERE to read the Journal News article.

CLICK HERE to read and listen to WAMC Radio coverage.

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PSC AND SUEZ/UNITED WATER GET EARFUL FROM ROCKLAND RESIDENTS!

Over 300 Rockland ratepayers and elected officials spoke out at four hearings held on June 15 & 16 by the NYS PSC on a proposed rate increase and other plans by Suez. Half of the rate increase would pay for the company’s planning costs for its failed desalination attempt, which never started construction and was finally abandoned in 2015 after eight years of public opposition. The $54.5 million desal “mortgage” would end up costing residents $88 to $110 million with interest over 20 years.

Click on the link above to get a taste of public opposition to these costs. Many elected officials and residents said the costs of the failed project should be borne by shareholders, not the public. Criticism was also leveled at the company plans for conservation plans and repair of leaks. While these plans are a step in the right direction, they only meet the bare minimum required by the PSC.

Click here to read more.

Listen to and read WAMC reporting of the hearings at this link:

http://wamc.org/POST/PSC-HEARING-SUEZ-WATERS-PROPOSED-RATE-HIKE-DRAWS-CRITICS

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SUEZ FILES FOR $54 M SURCHARGE

Click here for information about Suez’s request for $54 million for their failed desalination project and for policy plans in this new filing.

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PSC ORDERS SUEZ TO KILL DESALINATION PLANT

Click HERE for The Journal News story

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GROUNDBREAKING REPORT FROM NATIONALLY RENOWNED EXPERT

Suez withdraws from county task force. Click HERE for Our Town editorial on Suez actions.

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Rockland Water Coalition wins highest EPA honor in the nation!

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Sometimes the little guy wins!

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SUEZ/UNITED WATER TOLD TO SHELVE DESAL PLANS!

Click HERE for NY Times and Bloomberg News coverage!

Grassroots environmental activists accomplished the impossible, stopping Suez, a multi-national corporation with plans for treating Hudson River water for Rockland County's drinking water.

One senior NYS staffer called the decision "an earthquake." Read more

TAKE ACTION

Here are TWO WAYS to make a tax-deductible donation to the work of the Rockland Water Coalition, as we head into the next phase of working for a sustainable water management plan:

1. You can donate online at
www.nodesal.com (upper right hand corner)

2. Checks can be made payable to Sierra Club Foundation with "Rockland Water Coalition" in the memo line and mailed to Sierra Club Foundation, PO Box 792, Pearl River, NY 10965.

For questions or further information about donations, contact George Klein, Rockland Water Coalition's Fundraising Chair, at (914) 772-3916.

THANK YOU!