Giving Back
For over a decade, the Cricket Valley Energy Center (CVEC) team has been a consistent and meaningful supporter of the Dover community by providing jobs, local project funding, and community support. Providing cleaner power and economic, social, and community benefits to Dover is the CVEC team’s priority.
During construction, the CVEC facility created over 1,100 construction jobs, and now has a team of 25 permanent, full-time staff who are responsible for maintaining and operating the facility with salaries totaling approximately $3.4 million per year. In addition to delivering enough electricity to power 1 million homes, the CVEC facility contributes millions in tax revenue to the Dover School System, the town, Dutchess County, and New York State.
The CVEC team actively partners with the Town of Dover, investing in initiatives with the Town Recreation Department, Dover High School, and the Dover Educational Enrichment Program (DEEP), among others. The CVEC team welcomes collaboration with environmental, community, and education-oriented groups. If you would like to partner with us, please email info@cricketvalley.com.
Economic Benefits
The CVEC facility’s positive impacts extend beyond low emission and efficient energy production. The project’s annual tax payment is currently set at approximately $3.3 million and will escalate to approximately $7.9 million.
CVEC’s PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) Agreement provides significant benefits to the local community. The tax payments will total $157 million over a 30-year period.
CVEC also provides funding for the following projects:
- $10,000 annual donation to the Dover Educational Enrichment Program (DEEP) for school enrichment opportunities
- New well and filtration system at Thomas J. Boyce Park
- Dover Day 2024 funding to the Town of Dover Recreation Department
- New Salt Shed and Pole Barn for use by Dover Town Board
- ~1,800 White Pine tree saplings donated to the Dover School District for Earth Day
- Improvements to J.H. Ketcham Memorial Park
- New refrigeration system for the Center of Compassion’s food bank
- Purchase of a new mini-excavator, 10-wheel truck, and other requirements for use by the Town
- Annual $5,000 scholarship for graduates of Dover Union Free School District continuing over a 30-year term. The annual recipient may renew this scholarship for up to four years.
- Dover Little League annual team sponsorship
- New athletic field lighting and sound system at Dover High School
- Adopt-a-Highway program on Route 22
- Board of Education Discretionary Fund
Serving the Community
Each month, CVEC volunteer employees stock the shelves at the Center of Compassion Food Bank in Dover Plains. But in April 2024, the CVEC team learned an on-loan refrigerator would need to be returned, reducing the needed space to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for distribution. Days later, the Food Bank received a brand new refrigerator from the CVEC team, ensuring food was preserved for Food Bank customers.
Annually, the CVEC team grants a four-year scholarship to a graduating high school senior continuing their education in a STEM field. In June, the CVEC team announced that the 2024 grantee is Joseph St. Onge – congratulations, Joseph! Joseph plans to study chemical or electrical engineering. A gymnastics champ, Joseph plays saxophone and has earned spots on the dean's list and National Honor Society. Everyone at CVEC sends Joseph and all graduates in the Dover High School Class of 2024 best wishes for their futures.
The CVEC team joined Dover Schools to celebrate Earth Day in 2024! To contribute to the cause, the CVEC team donated ~1,800 white pine saplings to be planted by staff and students. White pine saplings were gifted with the message "Reduce carbon emissions one tree at a time." The team at CVEC is thankful for this opportunity to give back to the local community here in Dover, NY, and meet some of its younger community members.
The CVEC team participated in its first Battle of the Badges this year! The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA) hosts the annual Battle of the Badges 5k to raise money for children and families seeking their support. The CVEC team was proud to win 2nd place in the “Most Spirited” category. A special thank you to Jay Baronowski from Advanced Power for joining our team and thank you to CPCA for hosting the Battle of the Badges for a great cause.
The team at CVEC is a proud sponsor of Dover Day, an annual community festivity. This year’s Dover Day was the largest and most popular Dover Day in the past decade. Dover Day hosted over 100 cars in its car show, a lawn mower race, dozens of vendors, carnival rides, live entertainment, and a fireworks display. The town thoroughly enjoyed celebrating their closeknit community with many folks taking to social media to express this through sharing photos and experiences.
The CVEC team proudly supports the Dover Little League. The youth sports group provides a safe place for children to play baseball, get outdoor exercise, and build positive relationships with teammates and coaches. The CVEC team was represented by Samantha White, the CVEC Plant Administrator. A banner representing CVEC was proudly displayed near the entrance to the field.
In 1998, the National Education Association established National Read Across America Week. The date coincides with the March 2nd birthday of the children's author, Dr. Seuss.
The Wingdale Elementary School graciously invited Cricket Valley Energy Center to celebrate with them again this year on February 28, 2022. Plant Administrator Samantha White was invited to the field to accept a plaque on behalf of the CVEC team for the donation made. Samantha not only enjoyed a spirited rendition of the beloved story, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michelle Rosen, acted out by the teachers and staff, she also then had the pleasure of sharing her favorite book with the class of children. Many guest speakers from the community joined in reading to each class including the Town Supervisor, County Sheriff, and many others.
The CVEC team had a visit from the local fire department, J.H. Ketcham Hose Company. This year was tough for the all-volunteer fire department as many of their fundraisers, including their biggest, the Annual Dover Carnival, were canceled due to the pandemic. The CVEC team asked local firefighters to provide a list of some tools that could help them with their rescues, and gladly gifted them the supplies. The Dover Volunteer Fire Department members stopped by the facility to say thank you and show off their new tools.
The second Thursday of each month, the folks at CVEC gather at the Center of Compassion to help unload and put away food for their food bank.
However, November was a little different in 2020. The Center for Compassion’s holiday delivery requests doubled that of previous years, so the CVEC team stepped in to help fulfill orders. With the help of Advanced Power, the CVEC team was able to additionally provide a refrigerator/freezer to replace a unit that had recently broken during a power outage. The unit was immediately put to good use housing large deliveries. The team at CVEC is proud to partner with the Center of Compassion for such a worthy cause.
The CVEC team joined the Chamber of Commerce to fill wish lists in its Adopt-a-Family program in the challenging 2020 holiday season. The CVEC team rallied the employees and the team filled wish lists for two families and then some with toys, clothes, and much needed household items for a happier holiday.