Keep Power Local: A State Takeover of Central Hudson Risks Our Jobs, Schools, and Communities
Across the Hudson Valley, union laborers and trade professionals are working every day to modernize our infrastructure, strengthen our energy systems, and keep our communities moving forward. These jobs aren’t just paychecks—they’re careers that support families, develop skills, and build futures right here at home.
That’s why the recent push for a government takeover of Central Hudson should concern any New Yorker who depends on steady work, reliable power, and a strong local economy.
Let’s be honest about what’s at stake. Replacing a private utility with a government-run operation may sound appealing to some on paper. But in practice, it means less local investment, fewer skilled jobs, and a major loss of accountability. Central Hudson currently makes significant capital investments in the Hudson Valley—projects that rely on local labor, union contractors, and a trained workforce that already exists in this region. Union workers are the backbone of this work, and we stand ready to keep building, maintaining, and powering our communities.
A state-run utility will simply not keep pace with current investment, which will result in stalled energy upgrades, reduced infrastructure reliability, and fewer opportunities for working families.
There are also serious risks to our region’s energy security. Central Hudson operates in coordination with independent experts and grid operators to ensure reliability across a complex and evolving energy system. A rushed or politically driven transition could disrupt that balance—with real consequences for public safety. The lights don’t stay on by accident. It takes planning, expertise, and accountability.
Meanwhile, the financial promises made by takeover supporters haven’t held up. Early claims about lower energy bills have quietly disappeared from the bill language—because they’re not backed by facts. In reality, a takeover would cost taxpayers more than $60 million annually in lost revenue — money Central Hudson currently delivers to towns and schools. That lifeline disappears under a government-run utility.
These aren’t abstract numbers. That’s money for classrooms, public services, road repairs, and emergency response. It’s money our communities rely on—money we can’t afford to lose.
That’s why the Protect Our Power Coalition was formed. Labor leaders, business owners, and community advocates are standing together to oppose this takeover. We’re not defending the status quo—we’re defending a future that works for working people. A future where energy remains reliable, workers are respected, and communities stay funded and safe.
The laborers and trade professionals I represent are proud to power the Hudson Valley—literally and figuratively. We have the skills, the workforce, and the commitment to build a modern energy future. But we need policies that strengthen—not undermine—that progress.
Let’s keep the focus where it belongs: on delivering real results for real people. We can’t afford to gamble our energy future on a plan that fails to add up.
Todd Diorio, President, Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, Chairman of New York State Laborers’ PAC and Special International Rep.
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