In March, two local environmental advocates spotted an item in the Ravena News Herald about a CAPITAL REGION INDEPENDENT MEDIA contest looking to crown the top 5 “community change-makers” from Southern Albany & Northern Green County — the areas they serve with their 5 local papers.
Advocates immediately thought of CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen and all she does to inform, protect, and enhance the community and its natural surroundings – and got down to submitting!
Drum roll please…
Barbara won!
We’re so proud of her!!
The announcement will be published in the Columbia Paper, Greenville Pioneer, the Ravena News Harold, and the Upstater’s newest acquisition, a paper in Cobleskill (not sure of the name), as well as on their social media pages.
BUT — even better(!!) — there’s going to be a gala dinner at the Wire Event Center, the super snazzy venue next to the Newbury boutique hotel in Coxsackie, where the awards will be presented.
Let’s rally our environmental advocates, show our support, and celebrate Barbara’s win together!
Concerned resident and CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen, has the opportunity to read her rejected LTE (Letter to the Editor) sent to the Times Union a few months ago. It’s reassuring to know that TheOpinionPageOnline provides an alternate source to share opinions.
TheOpinionPage.Online, a new, online democracy project, provided Town Supervisor Stephen Donnelly with a free web-based outlet to explain his position and the details of the controversial NY FAST grant. His opinion and that of so many more engaged residents in the Town of Coeymans are what make our community stronger. If you have an opinion to share through video, be sure to contact TheOpinionPage.Online.
I am speaking out about the resolution passed by the Town Board to move ahead with a project to build a high-voltage 50-100MW (megawatt) electric substation at the Port of Coeymans. I watched the March 13, 2025 Town Board meeting.
The embarrassing behavior exhibited by board member Stephen Schmidt reflects badly on him as a public servant and the Town. I was NOT convinced by the FAST NY Shovel-Ready program presentation showing how similar projects had benefited other communities. The award of $17 million towards the cost of building this substation is just a small fraction of the total cost of $80-100 million.
In calling for a snap vote on what I see is “The Complete Unknown” is in itself suspect. Why did Mr. Schmidt do this? The Town Supervisor, Stephen Donnelly, and Deputy Supervisor, Michael Stott, urged the Town Board to use reason and not vote until many questions on this resolution and the entire project are answered to not just the Board but to the residents of the Town. The Town’s legal counsel Rich Reilly, who had not seen the resolution, warned it was unwise to pass a resolution before seeing the underlying agreements. What prudent business person does that? And why did Mr. Hotaling and Ms. Bruno vote yes? Who in the state and county is putting pressure on this Board to railroad this through? This passed resolution turns over negotiations to the Advance Albany County Alliance. Worse yet the Town will not be involved in defining the terms of any grants. None of us local residents can participate in a debate on the long-term consequences of the proposal, which could further harm the community.
This Town and its residents have been held hostage and harmed by Holcim International, the DEC, the Port of Coeymans, and the powers that be in the State and County for many years. Visit this website and you’ll find a historical record of what has happened to this Town and the Village over time.
I want answers before anything more is done: Who will this project benefit and who will it burden? Where will the rest of the money to build this substation come from? Why is this power needed since large-scale wind power appears to be off the table for the Port of Coeymans? Will future manufacturing sites invade residential areas along the Hudson? Will residents see even more industrial truck traffic through the town and village? What will happen to our home values, health, local environment , and town’s population?
I must point out that Rosemary McHugh – spouse of George McHugh, former Town Supervisor who aspires to another term in the town in the upcoming November election – works for the Advance Albany Alliance. This project and all the others that would expand industrialization on the shores of the Hudson River have been preordained by powers outside the town for a long time. I am sure I am not the only resident who feels that we are pawns in the high stakes of tens of millions of dollars to be made for the stakeholders, but nothing for us.
I am not in favor of this project or this money flowing to the town for this project until all of the above questions are answered to the satisfaction of all of us. I applaud and support Supervisor Donnelly and Deputy Supervisor, Michael Stott in doing the right thing.
This video is the last 30 minutes (unedited) of a controversial public meeting held on Thursday, March 13 from 6p-9:30p at the Coeymans Town Hall.
Two local women react during Q&A
At the Coeymans Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025 people heard about a proposal to build a high-voltage 50-100MW (megawatt) electric substation at the Port of Coeymans to support more manufacturing.
Representatives from the FAST NY Shovel-Ready program, part of NYS Empire State Development (ESD), brought a slide presentation showing how similar projects had benefited local communities and helped meet Governor Hochul’s commitment to generate good and economic growth. FAST NY had agreed in 2023 to award $17 million towards the cost of building the substation, a small fraction of the total cost: $80-100 million. To get the money, the Town needs to accept the grant by the FAST deadline in November 2025.
Town Board members, as well as CAC members and area residents, had a number of questions: who might be the “end-users” of this electricity, how much would it cost the Town, and where would any manufacturing be located?
Unfortunately, the meeting’s ‘fact-finding’ objective unravelled during the last 30 minutes. Town Councilman, Stephen J. Schmitt, presented a resolution for an immediate vote. The resolution turned over all negotiations on the grant to the Advance Albany County Alliance. Local residents will not be able to debate the long term consequences of the proposal. Nor will the Town be involved in defining the terms of the grant, although the Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor will sign any agreements negotiated by the Albany Alliance.
CAC members were taken aback. Why is this power needed, especially as wind power is not currently viable economically or politically? Would future manufacturing sites invade residential areas along the Hudson? Will residents see even more industrial truck traffic through the town? What will happen to our house values, health, or local environment?
Town Supervisor, Stephen Donnelly, and Deputy Supervisor, Michael Stott, urged the Town Board to exercise caution, care, and prudence by not voting immediately. They were backed by the Town’s Attorney, Rich Reilly, who was seeing the resolution for the first time. He warned it was unwise to pass a resolution before seeing the underlying agreements. It was like signing a contract before it was even written.
Unhappily, the other board members were not convinced. They voted 3-2 to pass the resolution.
What will this mean for Coeymans? Will local people benefit or only local businesses?
Come to the next Town Board meeting at 6pm on March 27th to voice your opinion.
Revised Grading Plan to allow for more manufacturing at the Port of Coeymans with the building of a new 50-100MW electric substation.
