A major development in the future of Dunkirk’s former power station and waterfront has been announced by NRG Energy Inc.

In a news release issued this morning, NRG announced the completion of a transaction to transfer ownership of its Dunkirk Generating Station and associated assets to Genover, a firm focused on responsibly redeveloping legacy industrial properties. This transaction represents an important step forward for the Dunkirk community and the continued evolution of the site.

“This is an important step for Dunkirk and builds on years of collaboration,” said Matt Pistner, SVP, President of NRG Wholesale. “We care deeply about this community and are proud of the role the facility played here. We appreciate the partnership of state and local leaders and share their commitment to seeing the site redeveloped in a way that benefits the region.”

For decades, the Dunkirk Generating Station was part of the fabric of this community — powering homes and businesses across the region from the 1950s until its retirement in 2016. NRG said in the release “it has been proud to be a part of Dunkirk’s history and remains committed to supporting the future of the site.”

Over the years, NRG has worked closely with local and state leaders, who share a common goal of seeing the site return to productive use. We are grateful for the leadership and partnership of the City of Dunkirk and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, including Vince DeJoy and Mark Geise, whose ongoing engagement and commitment have helped advance a constructive path forward.

“Today’s announcement is such an encouraging step forward,” said state Sen. George Borrello. “I am hopeful this site can once again become a productive part of the community and a contributor to the local economy, something that is desperately needed. This has the potential to mark the beginning of a new chapter for Dunkirk and Chautauqua County, and I appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in helping move this project forward.”

With this transaction, Genover will lead the next phase of future site planning, preparation, and redevelopment. Genover looks forward to closely working with City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County officials to thoughtfully identify future redevelopment efforts.

“I’m very pleased that all of the hard work the CCIDA, County, City of Dunkirk, and other stakeholders contributed to getting the NRG plant back into productive use has finally resulted in something very meaningful and positive,” said County Executive PJ Wendel. “We are very excited to work with Genover and will continue to contribute to and push for a project that benefits the City, County, and region to the greatest extent possible.”

“Today’s announcement marks a meaningful milestone for the City of Dunkirk. This site has been part of our community’s identity for generations, and its transition opens the door to new opportunities for growth and investment. We appreciate NRG’s long-standing partnership and their commitment to ensuring a responsible handoff. We look forward to working with Genover as they begin planning the next chapter for this property, one that supports jobs, strengthens our local economy, and reflects the priorities of the people of Dunkirk,” said City of Dunkirk Mayor, Kate Wdowiasz.

This step reflects a shared focus on responsibly transitioning legacy infrastructure to support productive reuse, economic development, and long-term community value through collaboration among industry, government, and local stakeholders.

“This is the news that the people of Dunkirk have long awaited. Through the planning studies funded by ARC and NYSERDA with top consultants and the persistence of our local team, Dunkirk is positioned for new and great possibilities for potential new development,” DeJoy said. “I met with Genover about two years ago, and knew they could be the answer given their track record. We even included one of their projects from State Line, Indiana in our Phase II study.”

NRG is a leading provider of electricity, natural gas, and smart home solutions to 8 million customers across North America. The company operates a customer-first platform supported by a diversified supply strategy and the safe, reliable operation of approximately 25 GW of power generation. NRG plays a meaningful role in competitive energy markets and our innovative team is creating the flexible and affordable solutions that households and large businesses need today and in the future. Visit nrg.com for more information, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.