On June 15, 2023, radio host David Lombardo of the Capitol Pressroom spoke with CAC member Barbara Heinzen about the proposed expansion of the Port of Coeymans. The 22-minute interview addressed several key issues including waste management, heavy traffic, noise and air pollution, permit violations, political nepotism, river degradation, and the lack of transparency at the Port. Heinzen spoke about cleaner and smarter port alternatives to manufacturing offshore wind parts. She also cited reasons as to why the activities at the Port of Coeymans are not merely a NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) issue. What happens in Coeymans doesn’t stay in Coeymans… because environmental degradation affects everyone, reiterated Heinzen.
On the morning of Wednesday, May 24, the CAC invited the local press and all interested guests aboard a patrolling vessel on the Hudson River operated by Riverkeeper Captain John Lipscomb. The media opportunity served to highlight a 2.5-mile stretch of vulnerable ecological shoreline at risk of further industrial expansion. NYSERDA is in the process of deciding on one or more of 3 ports in the Capitol region to award with a lucrative offshore wind contract this summer.
In addition to major deforestation, ambitions at the Port of Coeymans in both waste collection and offshore wind could, potentially, destroy a part of the new Eagle Recreation area designated from Kingston to Albany including dozens more rare habitats.
The informational tour was narrated by Riverkeeper member, Rebecca Martin along with CAC Chair, Dr. Barbara Heinzen. Invited guests included Times Union writer, Rick Karlin, Times Union photographer, Lori Van Buren, Ravena resident and CAC member, Ashley Redfield, and Ravena resident, Eric Remillard.
The boat tour underscored the importance of Hannacroix Creek and the remaining parcels of land currently owned privately by the Ten Enyk Powell family. It navigated the shoreline from just south of the Port of Coeymans to just shy of the Castleton Bridge and returned within the hour.
Captain Lipscomb and Dr. Heinzen described the potential dangers to the environment and quality of life issues like additional barge and truck traffic, noise and water pollution, and continual deforestation.
Several acres at 47 Bronk Road that abuts the River were destroyed in early 2023 when Port of Coeymans owner, Carver Co, purchased the land.
Since 2006, the Port and allied businesses on the banks of the River have tripled in size from its original 122-acre footprint to at least 665 acres. The area is largely controlled by Carver Co who has been building one of the biggest waste depots in the Northeast. The Coeymans community and the river do not want or need more industrial development.
Some of the material being collected at the Port of Coeymans is said to be recycling C&D but when the piles never move out, it’s a dump, one that sits right next to the Hudson River.
Since 2006, the Port of Coeymans and allied businesses on the banks of the Hudson River have tripled in size from its original 122-acre footprint to at least 665 acres. This area is largely controlled by Carver Laraway who has been building one of the biggest waste depots in the Northeast. Now the Port wants to add a large wind power project into the mix. Residents living near the Port of Coeymans, who are already dealing with an excessive number of polluting waste projects, fear that wind could do more harm than good.
The Big Push for Renewable Energy in NY State
NY State is offering significant financial support and likely public subsidies to businesses – including ports – hoping to develop offshore wind. The Port of Coeymans has been pushing hard to be one of the chosen sites. They claim this will bring hundreds of permanent manufacturing jobs to a “disadvantaged community” and numerous environmental benefits to New York.
We support wind power development in New York State, but as residents of Coeymans and Ravena, we know that the Port’s rapid expansion has been dominated by waste, including the possible sale of garbage to the nearby cement plant for fuel. This expansion has come with the destruction of our local environment and degraded our quality of life.
A bad actor: many violations at Carver Companies in Coeymans
Port of Coeymans is an “open shop” not required to hire union labor
According to their website, the Port is a “privately-owned marine terminal”. While there are other potential wind sites in the Capital Region that are public companies and would require good-paying union jobs, Coeymans is a private endeavor with an “open shop” where employees would not necessarily be required to join a labor union.
The Coeymans community left behind by the state; the Hudson River has no voice
Carver Companies call Coeymans a “disadvantaged community” in order for its businesses to qualify for state aid under the Climate Act when in fact, it is not classified as disadvantaged by the state. Instead, we are a community that is treated as collateral damage for garbage and wind development, and too small for the state to defend; the Hudson River with no voice of its own, is ignored.
What do we want?
We have real concerns about the Port of Coeymans being chosen as a potential site to develop wind power. With a history of isolated decisions resulting in a fragmented approach to the industrialization of the Port, we believe that a wind energy development will only lead to more garbage in our community and the further destruction of our quality of life and the Hudson River with its rare habitats and shoreline. For years the residents of Coeymans, Ravena, New Baltimore, Selkirk, and others have been asking for studies and an independent cumulative impact assessment for the Port of Coeymans, one that selects the important quality of life topics such as traffic, noise, water, land use, and biodiversity.
We are tired of losing greenfield land along the river for profit. It has got to stop.
TAKE ACTION: Coeymans is the wrong site for a wind development project. Tell Governor Hochul and NYSERDA that only public sites that can provide good-paying union jobs and plan to build on existing brownfields without expanding into greenfield sites should be approved.
Disclaimer: Change.org is a free petition site. Upon signing this petition, you will be automatically asked to make a donation to this platform, which is completely voluntary. Please note that your donations go to Change.org and not to the Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena / Coeymans.
Every spring volunteers up and down the Hudson River wade into the chilly waters to study juvenile eel migration. The slippery, slimy, little species is vital to the health of a river. As they grow they also become a vital food source for many fish. The study is part of an annual volunteer effort coordinated by the NYS DEC and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties.
During our walk along Hannacroix Creek, one of only 13 sites between Staten Island and Troy, we met up with the site’s project lead Lindsey Anne Strehlau-Howay. Lindsey works for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. The day’s volunteer, Daniel Fleischman, also dressed in warm, waterproof layers, helped to ready the gear needed to do this important work.
The two of them stood knee-deep in the chilly waters bubbling with excitement. They had just discovered that their net had yielded a treasure trove of tiny, transparent fish referred to as “glass eels.”
“One, two, three… yup, we got eels!” beamed Lindsey, as she scooped up handfuls from deep within the housing she installed two weeks prior. The nets will stay in the water for about six to eight weeks.
“Do you mind handing me one of those buckets?” she asked CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen. Barbara is the nearby homeowner that works hard to protect the rare tidal estuary at constant risk of industrial pollution.
Heinzen pulled the pail up the steep bank and reached into the bottom of it with a small scooper. As she started counting, she tried to snag one of the brown varieties. “Those are called elvers. They are a bit older than the others.” Barbara tallied up 20 letting them flip-flop into another pail. A total of 450 squirmy noodles were counted including an unidentified fish in the net (see last photo below). If you know what it might be, contact Lindsey.
Overall, the species is in decline and that never bodes well for a watershed already struggling from illegal dumping, dredging at the Port of Coeymans, and heavy marine traffic. Environmental conditions also determine calculations every year. After counting the sampling, the little specimens are released back into the river unharmed by their careful methodology.
For those interested in becoming a volunteer, there are spots still open between now and April 15. The volunteer sign-up sheet will show two weeks at a time but the season will last into May, possibly June.
First and foremost, the CAC extends a heartfelt thank you to all who attended this morning’s gathering at the RCS Library. We had a remarkable turnout, we filled every seat. This is especially impressive considering it was a Saturday and the day after a night of (presumably) St. Patty’s Day celebrations. So, thank you!
Secondly, our sincere apologies to those watching our live-streaming feed. Our wifi signal was not nearly as strong as we originally tested resulting in delays and resolution issues. However, a camera recording was made as a backup. The presentation session, shown below, is 45 minutes.
The Q&A session is available upon request to help protect those in the audience that did not want to be recorded. As social media has proven, our efforts to educate and inform can sometimes arouse hateful and hostile reactions aimed at our supporters. Should anyone be subject to intimation, please let us know.
And, finally, thank you to all volunteers, both in front and behind the scenes. It takes an incalculable amount of time and effort to turn the tide but our momentum and perseverance are taking shape in the community and we couldn’t be more grateful.
It’s time to put the brakes on the industrial expansion madness in our area. Please help us by signing the petition and attending one of our Steering Committee meetings for instructions on where we go next. Thank you.
