People from the Town of Wawayanda are fired up over the pending air permits for the CPV Power plant. The plant is applying for new permits after their previous ones expired.

A judge ruled the power plant could continue to run while the DEC considered the new permit. Several dozen citizens gathered for the first public comment session held by the DEC on the permit process. 

Democratic Senator Jen Metzger was among those who spoke on the record against the plant. 

"The project's approval process has been tainted by corruption that undermines public confidence in approvals to date. Denial of the Title 5 permit would signal the state's committment to reducing green house gas and emissions, and the severity of climate change," Metzger said.

Pramilla Mallick, the chair of Protect Orange County, hopes local politicians would continue to fight the plant from their chambers in Albany. 

"Senator Metzger is a state senator, she has the ability to sponsor legislation. She can sponsor legislation to get this plant shut down, we urge her to do that. Senator Skoufis is chair of the oversight committee. He can call and initiate oversight hearings, so we're asking him to do that," Mallick said.

But in Orange County, some locals say they are feeling negative health effects, which they claim is linked to the plant's opening. Randy Hurst, a 30-year resident, says his asthma was under control for decades.

"But since CPV has began operating, my condition has gotten substantially worse. I used to be on one inhaler and now I'm on medication and four inhalers," Hurst said.  

In a statement, CPV says that in terms of data, "it's clear CPV is good for the environment and the regional economy." For Protect Orange County, they think the choice for the DEC to make is a clear one. 

"If the DEC exorcised political influence, got it out of the process, and really followed their mandate — really followed their mission, really followed the regulations — they would have no choice but to reject this permit," Mallick said.

And if the permits do get approved, they won't stop fighting. 

"There are so many people who are leaving their homes, who are being forced out of their homes. One family lived here for 10 generations. But 300,000 people in Orange County cannot leave and therefore we will continue to fight. I will personally continue to fight on behalf of the children of Orange County," Mallick said.