On September 22, 2025 IBEW Local 10 was on the ground to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisiters with local 320.

KINGSTON - Advocates walking the road to public power in the Mid-Hudson Valley have encountered their first organized resistance. It's a doozy of a lineup with serious political clout: Three local county chambers of commerce, three major national business groups and several key regional labor unions.

A response to the Hudson Valley Power Authority Act (HVPA), a bill introduced by Assembly member Sarahana Shrestha and state Sen. Michelle Hinchey that would authorize New York State to acquire Central Hudson and run it as "publicly-owned and democratic" with "no profit motive," the "Protect Our Power" coalition's objections were spelled out at a kick-off press conference in Poughkeepsie yesterday.

Host Stephanie Raymond, Central Hudson President and CEO, pulled no punches in her introductory remarks. "A few lawmakers may think a government takeover is a good idea, but it is not," she said. "The government does not have the skill, expertise or workforce to run this utility. Let me be very clear. We are not for sale."

"A government-run utility will not invest the way we do," Raymond continued. "Less investment means fewer jobs, fewer upgrades and less community impact." As for the bottom line, "The truth is this hostile takeover could cause taxpayers more than $60 million every year in lost tax revenue, money Central Hudson currently pays to local towns and villages. That's money for schools, for first responders and for community services that would all disappear."

‍