Local activist and KingstonCitizens.org leader Rebecca Martin is calling on the town of Ulster to take stronger action in reviewing a proposed battery storage facility by energy developer Terra-Gen. She’s urging the town board to formally acknowledge that the project could have serious environmental impacts and to begin a full environmental review process.
Some locals have looked to Martin for guidance on the project, as she’s historically been a staunch advocate for renewable energy while simultaneously acting as a watchdog for responsible development.
To say the battery plant proposal has been controversial among local residents would be an understatement — dozens of signs voicing opposition dot the yards and roadsides of the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed development site, despite many of the critics supporting renewable energy ideologically. Nonetheless, town officials are working behind the scenes to push the plan forward.
Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley III recently denied that the board was close to deciding against further environmental review, but said “we might end up there eventually.”
In an email, Martin criticized town officials for delaying a clear decision. She said the board missed a required deadline months ago and has since continued asking the developer for more studies, instead of deciding whether the project should move forward with a more detailed environmental review.
Martin also raised concerns about how the review process began. She said the town started it before the necessary paperwork was complete, which may have left out other government agencies that should have been involved early on. The application was later revised and resubmitted in June, after local advocates pointed out missing details.
Among the issues Martin highlighted are the project’s close proximity to homes and the reliance on a small, volunteer fire department for emergency response. She also pointed to potential harm to wetlands, endangered species, and a nearby waterway, as well as the project’s location next to an area considered vulnerable by state environmental standards.
Martin is calling on the town board to stop holding discussions out of public view and to formally require the developer to go through a full environmental review before the project moves forward.
Quigley was backed up by state senator Michelle Hinchey and assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha in pushing for the project to be approved. Officials insist the project is safe and is necessary to build a renewable energy ecosystem.
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