Southern Ulster Times Sept. 11 2019

T IMES SOUTHERN ULSTER Danskammer makes case for new power plant Vol. 16, No. 37 3 SEPTEMBER 11 - 17, 2019 3 ONE DOLLAR Tiny trolleys Pages 18-19 SERVING HIGHLAND, MARLBOROUGH AND PLATTEKILL Honorary team captain By MARK REYNOLDS [email protected] This week the Southern Ulster Times interviewed Michelle Hook, Vice President of Public Affairs for Danskammer Energy LLC, seeking her comments on last weeks reporting of a meeting in the City of Beacon by opponents of a new $400 million power plant that is being proposed beside the company’s old plant, located on the shores of the Hudson River in the Town of Newburgh. The original plant burned coal and in recent years it has used natural gas. Danskammer’s new gas-fired plant will produce up to 550 megawatts of power and serve 500,000 residents. In a recent newsletter, Danskammer CEO Bill Reid said the company is committed, “to make Danskammer cleaner and more efficient and to help New York create a bridge to a renewable energy tomorrow by providing power that is needed today.” Reid welcomes the public approval process, “because we know the project can stand on its merits and we are committed to transparency and engagement.” Danskammer has touted some of the key advantages of a new plant: when needed it can power up in minutes rather than the 11 hours that it now takes for the old one. The new plant will use up to 50% less natural gas than at present and will pass lower energy costs on to consumers. Overall there will be 80% to 90% fewer Continued on page 4 Joe Tompkins Prior to their opening game of the season last Friday, the Marlboro Dukes dedicated the game to Tanner Harshberger, a former Marlboro football star who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident last month. His mother, Debbie Alexander, was named honorary captain and escorted onto the field for the pregame coin toss. A story on the game appears on page 36. Plattekill moves ahead with Master Plan By STACIA DONALDSON A moment of silence preceded the September 4 meeting of the Plattekill Town Board. Members of the Town Board honored Senator William J. Larkin,who passed away on August 31, 2019. Senator Larkin was an honored veteran who dedicated over 40 years to serving the people of New York in various government positions. Councilman Darrell Matthews presented an update on the ongoing Thomas Felton Park Expansion Project. Councilman Matthews, who serves as chairman of the Park Expansion Committee, explained that the Thomas Felton Park expansion project was CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE - WWW.SUTIMESONLINE.COM becoming more concrete, and would soon develop a master plan using the input of the residents of Plattekill as a blueprint. In order to assess the ability to expand the park, members of the park expansion committee will discuss the proposed projects with an engineer. The Town of Continued on page 23