Adirondack Review Board News

NORTH COUNTRY PROGRAMS RECEIVE MORE THAN $900,000 IN STATE FUNDING - Adirondack Almanac (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

NORTH COUNTRY PROGRAMS RECEIVE MORE THAN $900,000 IN STATE FUNDING

Adirondack Almanac (Saranac Lake, NY)

6/17/26

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) provided roughly $4 million of funding for organizations through New York’s 21st Congressional District, including programs in the Capitol Region and the North Country.

Adirondack grant awardees include:

ROOST: $120,000

Funding will help launch a regional digital marketplace that expands yearâround revenue for Adirondack artisans and small creative businesses in Essex, Hamilton and southern Franklin Counties.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County: $499,918.74

Funds will support the Adirondack Cuisine Trails through platform migration and a promotional campaign.

“With 12 million annual visitors to the Adirondacks, we cannot overstate the tremendous potential for tourism to positively impact our region’s economy,” said Elizabeth Lee, executive director for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “Visitors value the authenticity of the North Country, and we feel that the trails are well positioned to provide a meaningful agritourism experience for our guests. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County is extremely appreciative of this opportunity and we are honored to support our incredible community of agricultural producers, local food businesses and farm to table establishments.”

Village of Saranac Lake: $249,411.50

Funds will upgrade Mount Pisgah Recreation Area infrastructure, supporting yearâround recreation.

Town of Long Lake: $125,000

Funds will be used for a feasibility and conceptual design study evaluating whether to rebuild the stormâdamaged Jennings Pond dam or develop natureâbased recreation, enhancing Main Street, expanding recreation and strengthening the visitor economy.

CHAMPLAIN HUDSON POWER EXPRESS OFFICIALLY COMPLETED - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

CHAMPLAIN HUDSON POWER EXPRESS OFFICIALLY COMPLETED

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/17/26

On Tuesday, the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), the landmark clean energy project and longest fully-buried transmission line in North America, marked the completion of a major transmission link connecting Québec’s hydropower system directly to New York City, capable of delivering 1,250 MW to the New York City electrical grid, equivalent to 20% of the City’s energy needs.

The completion of this $6 billion privately funded project is a historic milestone for New York State’s decarbonization goals and a blueprint for building large-scale clean energy infrastructure projects in the United States.

CHPE was created through a partnership between Transmission Developers (TDI), a Blackstone portfolio company, and Hydro-Québec, one of the largest hydropower producers in the world. The culmination of more than 15 years of planning and development from project conception to completion, CHPE stretches 339 miles along the entire length of New York State, from the Canadian border to a converter station in Astoria, Queens, where energy enters the New York City grid.

The project will deliver under a 25-year contract between Hydro-Québec and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Its operations will significantly strengthen the City’s energy grid reliability while supporting a reduction in the reliance on burning fossil fuels, providing significant health benefits to local communities, especially neighborhoods that have historically been disproportionately negatively impacted by harmful carbon emissions. CHPE is expected to provide an estimated carbon emission reduction equivalent to removing nearly half of the cars from New York City streets.

Over the course of its three years of construction, CHPE was a major employment engine, creating 1,400 family-sustaining union jobs and more than 7.5 million hours worked. The project will continue to deliver tangible financial and economic benefits to New York State ratepayers and communities along the project route. TDI estimates that CHPE is expected to save New York State ratepayers approximately $17.3 billion over the first 30 years of operations. The project will also provide a $1.4 billion incremental increase in tax revenue for local communities over the first 25 years of operations.

"The Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line is one of the first projects I championed as Governor, and is a game changer when it comes to keeping the lights on, helping build a cleaner future, and holding costs down," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "With its completion, we are powering 1 million New York City homes with needed clean energy that will serve communities for generations to come. This project is further proof that despite the unprecedented federal headwinds we are facing, New York will remain a national climate and clean energy leader into the future."

Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone, said, “This is a transformational project – bringing clean energy from Québec to Queens – that will help lower emissions, reduce costs for consumers, and meet almost one-fifth of New York City’s power needs. Today marks the culmination of a 16-year journey and we could not be prouder that Blackstone’s long-term capital helped make it a reality. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, organized labor, TDI, Hydro-Québec, the U.S. and Canadian governments, the City of New York, and our many other partners in delivering vital energy for the City of New York.”

Claudine Bouchard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec, said, “Delivering a project of this scale—fully underground and across borders—is a true tour de force. CHPE is the result of more than a decade of vision, collaboration and determination. It reflects the very best of what our teams and partners can achieve together, and stands as a powerful demonstration of engineering excellence, coordination and perseverance in building the energy systems of the future.”

CHPE officially reached commercial operation ahead of schedule, completing a complex, multi-year construction effort and enabling the integration of renewable hydropower into the New York City grid. Hydro-Québec’s long-term contract with New York State entered into effect on June 1, marking the start of the contractual phase of the project. Due to temporary market restrictions that will be resolved next month, Hydro-Québec has been selling energy over CHPE based primarily on market signals in New York City over the past few weeks.

CHPE’s fully-buried high-voltage direct current (HVDC ) line includes 193 miles of submarine cable laid in Lake Champlain, the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, and 146 miles of underground cable buried primarily in roads and railroad rights of way, to a brand new state of the art converter station in Queens, where energy is converted to enter the New York City power grid.

Supplying CHPE is the Hydro-Québec Hertel-New York interconnection line and converter. This line connects Hydro-Québec’s vast network of hydropower generating stations to the CHPE line in New York. It is approximately 36 miles long and travels from the Hertel substation in La Prairie, Québec to an interconnection point with CHPE in the Richelieu River, at the Canada–New York border.

CHPE was constructed by four main contractors. Hitachi Energy designed, delivered, and commissioned the converter station in Astoria, Queens. Kiewit Power Constructors Co. led on-land construction activities, including the buried HVDC cable installation upstate, and the converter station in Astoria, Queens. EJ Electric installed various system upgrades, including the Astoria-Rainey Connector HVAC line, also in Astoria, Queens. NKT served as CHPE’s HVDC cable supplier and submarine cable installer.

The Transmission Developers team recently refinanced $4 billion of CHPE LLC’s construction loan in the 144a market. Based on the dollar volume of orders received, it was one of the largest utility-oriented transactions in history. The final order book of approximately $22 billion (5.5x oversubscribed) represents the third largest utility order book of all time and the largest since 2020. Many of the largest fixed income investors in the world participated in the transaction. More than 50% of the debt was placed in 10-year and 20-year bullet tranches with credit spreads across all tranches (starting at five years) ranging from 72bps to 92bps over US Treasuries.

The Notes Offering closed on June 11. The Notes are rated A-/Baa1 from Fitch and Moody’s, respectively.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering for the repayment of the majority of the outstanding loans under its existing credit facility and to pay deal associated costs

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership to make this historic project a reality as the Champlain Hudson Power Express already began contributing to a clean, reliable and resilient grid last week when it delivered energy to New York City during a heatwave that saw temperatures across the state exceed 90 degrees. The culmination of deliveries under NYSERDA’s contract with Hydro-Québec is the result of a generational agreement that will continue to deliver a clean energy future for all New Yorkers for years to come.”

STATE BOARD RECOMMENDS LAKE GEORGE CLUB FOR LISTING ON REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES - Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY) Website

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

STATE BOARD RECOMMENDS LAKE GEORGE CLUB FOR LISTING ON REGISTERS OF HISTORIC PLACES

Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY)

6/17/26

The destruction of the Lake George Yacht Club’s building in Basin Bay in 1896 was as much a loss to Lake George’s architectural history as the demolition of the Gilded Age-era mansions along Millionaire’s Row.

Today, only a few privately-owned properties on Lake George are protected through the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

New York State’s Board for Historic Preservation is attempting to remedy that deficit.

On June 4, Kathy Moser, the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced that the Board has nominated the Lake George Club for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

“The Lake George Club reflects the architectural distinction and leisure culture associated with New York’s upper class during the early twentieth century,” the OPRHP stated in its press release announcing the nomination. “Designed by prominent New York architect Charles S. Peabody, it remains one of the longest-lasting seasonal sites on Lake George. The club fostered a distinct summer society throughout the twentieth century and continues to operate as one of the few remaining historic buildings in its original capacity on Lake George.”

Established in 1908, the Club’s founders included Spencer and Katrina Trask, who created the artists’ colony at Yaddo and financed the working women’s retreat at Wiawaka.

Earlier that year, the Trasks and a group of other Lake George summer residents, John Boulton Simpson, George Foster Peabody and W.K. Bixby among them, met at the Sagamore hotel to discuss forming a social club to replace the Lake George Yacht Club.

As the Lake George Mirror reported from the meeting, “it was determined that the Lake George Club should be organized to maintain a clubhouse and grounds where residents and visitors at Lake George may meet and have opportunity for mutual pleasure and friendly intercourse,” as well as participate in “all wholesome games and sports.”

Trask found the group a suitable property – a farm with ample room for a club house, docks, tennis courts and a golf course. Within weeks, the group approved purchase of the property and retained Charles S. Peabody to design the club house.

Peabody – whose firm was also responsible for Wiokosko, Wiawaka’s boat house and the Delaware and Hudson complex at the head of the lake – chose a style that is vaguely Tudor, vaguely Arts & Crafts, but which is nonetheless distinctive and representative of Lake George’s past.

As reported in the New York Times on August 22, 1909, opening day was a grand affair. “Society was out in force, and the members with their friends filled the piazzas and grounds while more than a half hundred steamboats and launches were anchored or floated about the club dock during the speed boat race.”

Also opening that day were the golf course and the clay tennis courts, which began hosting U.S. Lawn Tennis Association-sanctioned tournaments in 1918.

As the OPRHP notes, “the Lake George Club shaped the region’s boating history.”

Once commissioning ceremonies came to a close on August 14, 1909, the club’s first official powerboat races were held.

They would be the first of many. In 1914, for instance, the club commissioned its own Gold Cup race entry: Hawk Eye. In 1935, the Lake George Club sponsored three-time Gold Cup winner El Lagarto in that year’s races on Lake George.

One-Design sailing was introduced to the club in 1936; it continues today with fleets of J-22 and J-24 boats.

To help preserve the architectural legacy of the Lake George Club, a group of current members have established a not-for-profit organization called the Lake George Club Historic Preservation Foundation.

Its purpose, says Kathy Grasmeder, the foundation’s president, is to raise enough money to create an endowment that will maintain the appearance and the integrity of the 1909 structure into perpetuity. Nearly $2 million has been raised to date.

According to the OPRHP, listing on the State and National Registers can assist owners in revitalizing properties, and make them eligible for various public preservation programs and services, such as matching state grants and federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.

“Through the State and National Registers, we are committed to identifying and documenting historic places while connecting communities and property owners with resources that support preservation and revitalization,” said Kathy Moser.

SEAGLE’S YEAR-ROUND OPERA HALL TO BE REGIONAL PERFORMANCE CENTER - Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY) Website

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

SEAGLE’S YEAR-ROUND OPERA HALL TO BE REGIONAL PERFORMANCE CENTER

Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY)

6/17/26

A planned year-round performing arts center for the southern Adirondacks has advanced a step or two further: the Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Capital Projects Fund.

According to Tony Kostecki, the Seagle’s General Director, the state grant will help fund the construction of a new dining and conference hall at the rustic music education center – one component of a new, $30 million year-round campus.

The other two components are a 250-seat, state-of-the-art opera hall and two, eight-bedroom cottages to house the Seagle’s artists.

“The great thing about these buildings is that all of them will be winterized,” said Darren Woods, the Seagle’s Artistic Director. “We now cease operations in October because the campus is unlivable after that. We have to turn the water off because the pipes will freeze.”

For the Seagle, which has been a summer-term, singers’ conservatory for more than one hundred years, “the possibilities of a year-round performing arts destination are endless,” said Woods.

“We can produce programs for young people when schools are in session, not just in summer. We can present professional productions of opera and musicals throughout the year, which we can’t do now because our current theater is a small converted, unheated, Adirondack barn with no air conditioning. We will also be able to host conferences, meetings and retreats,” said Woods.

“We also envision our year-round opera hall and campus as a regional resource,” said Tony Kostecki. “We want this to be a place where the Glens Falls Symphony groups north of Schroon Lake could perform.”

As a combination performance venue and educational institution, a place that is oriented toward students as much as it is toward audiences (and in reality, much more), the Seagle needs facilities that serve both functions.

They no longer do, both Woods and Kostecki said.

“Our training and campus facilities have outlived their usefulness; they do not match the caliber of artists that we attract,” said Darren Woods. “We are still the very first choice for singers applying to training programs. But we have two other competitors.”

“Other programs have new or upgraded facilities and that will be a draw if ours have deteriorated to a point where they’re no longer usable,” said Kostecki. “Facilities have to be state-of-the-art if they’re to give our singers a professional experience.”

This fall, the Seagle’s administration expects to start prepping the land for development and modernizing the new campus’ invisible but nonetheless necessary infrastructure – water, power, wastewater systems.

“We’re basically building a small town up here,” said Kostecki.

According to Kostecki, all three components are expected to be completed by 2030.

“The opera hall will be built last, because that requires the greatest amount of money, which we are in the process of raising,” said Kostecki.

In announcing the grant, New York State officials emphasized the numerous economic, civic and social impacts of the arts.

“Our continued investments in museums, theaters, and art centers generate incredible returns — sparking innovation, boosting local economies, driving visitors, and making us the global epicenter of arts and culture,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Erika Mallin, the executive director of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), said, “We know that when the arts flourish, communities follow — bringing energy, creating jobs, expanding accessibility, and increasing tourism. The New York State Council on the Arts’ Capital Projects grant program is a critical investment in our creative sector.”

LAKE GEORGE ASSOCIATION CONTRACTS SEASONAL TECHNICIAN TO FIGHT HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID - Adirondack Almanac (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

LAKE GEORGE ASSOCIATION CONTRACTS SEASONAL TECHNICIAN TO FIGHT HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID

Adirondack Almanack (Saranac Lake, NY)

6/16/26

The Lake George Association signed a contract with the New York State Hemlock Initiative (NYSHI) at Cornell University to hire a seasonal technician who will help survey for and treat hemlocks infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in the Lake George watershed.

Hemlock woolly adelgid was first discovered in the Lake George watershed in 2020. While HWA is a terrestrial invasive species, its negative impacts on hemlock forests could lead to detrimental water quality decline if left unchecked.

A two-person conservation team from NYSHI leads efforts to survey and treat HWA. To-date, 62% of priority hemlock areas identified by the Lake George Hemlock Coalition (LGHC) have been surveyed, and 38% of these areas have been found to have HWA. In the last two years, approximately 225 acres of habitat and public recreation areas have been treated. The addition of a third seasonal technician this year, funded by the LGA, will expand these efforts. Another seasonal position is being funded by the Lake George Park Commission and East Shore Schroon Lake Association.

“The long-term health of Lake George’s hemlock forests and water quality depends on our actions today,” said Lake George Association President & CEO Brendan Wiltse. “We are proud to be a part of the Lake George Hemlock Coalition’s important work of educating the public and encouraging them to participate in the fight against hemlock woolly adelgid.”

In fall 2025, the LGHC issued a new method to make reporting of HWA easier for all land users. Additionally, NYSHI runs a program of releasing natural predators of HWA to serve as a biological control. Long-term, the organization hopes populations of these beneficial insects will grow and keep HWA populations in check, if enough hemlock trees can be kept alive in the meantime.

“Hemlock forests in the Lake George watershed are some of the finest examples of dense, intact hemlock forests that I have seen in 35 years of working with this species,” said NYSHI Director Mark Whittmore. “Thanks to the coalition, this region has an action plan for keeping healthy priority hemlock areas across the watershed.”

NY-21 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES DEBATE AHEAD OF JUNE 23 PRIMARY - North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY) Website

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

NY-21 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES DEBATE AHEAD OF JUNE 23 PRIMARY

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)

6/16/26

The two Democrats hoping to flip New York’s 21st Congressional District blue debated last week for the first and only time ahead of the June 23 primary.

Lake Placid businessman Stuart Amoriell and St. Lawrence County farmer Blake Gendebien met for the debate at the CBS6 News studio in Schenectady Thursday.

Unlike their Republican counterparts, who lobbed attacks at each other on the same stage last month, the two Democrats kept things civil as they laid out where they agreed and disagreed.

On ICE and Trump

Speaking just days after reports that ICE agents had apprehended more than 20 people in the Adirondacks, Amoriell had some strong thoughts about what should happen with the controversial agency.

"We need to dismantle and replace ICE as we know it and replace it with an immigration enforcement agency that respects the rule of law, due process, and the dignity of all people."

CBS6 News Anchor Tom Eschen asked Gendebien if he would vote to defund ICE.

"No," Gendebien answered. "What I will support is changing the leadership and make sure that all law enforcement operates with accountability and transparency with the same rules. Nobody should be unidentifiable and we should have body cams."

Eschen later asked the candidates how they’d address the Trump administration's use of power. Gendebien said his campaign is for voters who want to rebuild the United States' relationship with Canada, support union members, and protect rural hospitals.

"I’m going to be laser-focused on what’s right for the North Country and upstate New York and, like Stuart said, if we keep the people in this district a priority and their concerns a priority, we will not go wrong."

Amoriell said he agreed with the priorities Gendebien mentioned.

"But here’s the thing: I don’t think any of those things are going to happen until we put a check on Trump’s power, until we force the executive and Trump to live within the four corners of the Constitution. Until we do that, nothing else is possible."

Amoriell said that check is Democrats taking back control of Congress.

Constituent engagement promises

The two candidates both committed to actively engaging with constituents if elected. Amoriell said he’d spend as much time in-district listening to people as possible.

"And we’ll achieve this by making sure that we have legislative offices across the district, including mobile offices that can access our remote and rural communities so that every voice can be heard in Washington."

Gendebien said he’s already spent 18 months crisscrossing the district meeting with voters.

"And I commit to doing town halls in every single county because we already have," he said. "The voters in this district are the best part of the district and I want to hear from them."

During a rapid-fire round, the two Democrats agreed that it was the right move for then-President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election. Eschen asked who they thought the Democratic candidate for president should be in 2028.

Amoriell paused before saying he couldn't answer yet.

"I have to wait and see and hear the positions and the values of those that run before I can say who I think should be the president," he said.

"Okay, move on, Mr. Gendebien?" Eschen asked.

"I couldn’t think of anything I’m less interested in," Gendebien said.

HOCHUL HAS NOT SAID WHAT SHE'LL DO ABOUT A DATA CENTER BAN. BUT SHE'S DROPPING CLUES. - Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY) Website

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

HOCHUL HAS NOT SAID WHAT SHE'LL DO ABOUT A DATA CENTER BAN. BUT SHE'S DROPPING CLUES.

Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

6/15/26

Gov. Kathy Hochul is in no rush to welcome more data centers to New York.

When asked about a proposed law to enact a one-year moratorium on the development of new data centers in the state, Hochul twice aired unprompted concerns about the potential impact the centers could have on the power grid and New Yorkers' wallets. Hochul did not say whether she would sign the bill, the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed both houses of the State Legislature on June 4.

"It’s not fair to ratepayers in our state to have to have the higher costs because of a data center coming in," Hochul told reporters in Rochester on Tuesday. "So even before the talk of a moratorium, I had put this out there saying, ‘No. We are not letting this happen.’ I will look closely at that bill but also we were talking about this long before then.”

Later that day in Onondaga County, Hochul, citing remarks in her annual State of the State in January, said she was putting data centers "on notice" that that any center must pay for its own energy bills.

"This is not something that local communities should have to cover," Hochul said. "But with that as the backdrop, I’m looking at that bill and I have until the end of the year to review it."

The emergence of data centers, which power artificial intelligence, have generated wide opposition and support across the state and beyond. The Riverview Innovation & Technology Campus' plans to construct a 495,000-square-foot AI data center at the former Tonawanda Coke factory are now paused, but not before drawing concerns from elected officials. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has said no data centers will receive tax breaks from the Erie County Industrial Development Agency while he is in office.

"I think that (Hochul's) comments are, quite frankly, spot on," said Tonawanda Town Supervisor John Flynn. "From an electricity standpoint, whenever you analyze these data centers, there's two things you've got to look at. The first thing is the cost to the surrounding residents and businesses and secondly, is the reliability of the grid and the reliability of the power for the people in the community surrounding the data centers."

From a cost standpoint, he said it is not fair – statewide – to put the burden on the residents that live around the data centers.

Other proposed data centers in the region include the Stream Data Center's plans to construct a 500-megawatt data center complex in the Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park in the Town of Alabama in Genesee County. There also is a plan for a data center at the former Sugar Hill Golf Course in the Town of Portland in Chautauqua County.

The moratorium bill, sponsored by Assembly Member Didi Barrett, a Hudson Valley Democrat, and Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat representing parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, passed the Assembly 103 to 38. It passed the Senate 43 to 17. Every Western New York Democrat voted yes on the bill (Assembly Member Patrick Burke, D-Orchard Park, was absent due to a family emergency). Every Western Republican voted against it.

"I consider it a prudent move to press the pause button on data centers, to allow localities time to grapple with their impacts," Assembly Member William Conrad, D-Tonawanda, said in a statement when asked about the governor's remarks. "Each proposal ought to be weighed on a case-by-case basis, and with this issue gaining prominence nationally, I think a one-year moratorium offers a commonsense response to both community members and developers. I am encouraged to hear that Gov. Hochul seems to be leaning that way, as well."

Sen. Jeremy Zellner, D-Tonawanda, said in a statement that he "couldn't agree more" with Hochul's position that New Yorkers should not be forced to subsidize data center development.

"Before projects of this scale move forward, our neighbors deserve clear answers about the impacts on energy costs, infrastructure, public health, and the environment," the senator said.

Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera, D-Buffalo, who is facing Zellner in a Democratic primary for Zellner's seat, said in a statement that passing the moratorium was a good first step, but added, "We should not mistake a temporary delay for a permanent victory."

Rivera said the developers of the proposed Tonawanda data center have made it clear they want to move forward with the project.

"That's exactly why Governor Hochul must act quickly," Rivera said. "Every day that passes creates the possibility that work could begin, approvals could advance, and communities could lose the opportunity to have a meaningful voice in decisions that will impact them for decades."

Mark Masse, the president and CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, did not react strongly to the governor's remarks.

"As we have been communicating with our various stakeholders, the GCEDC will continue to move forward with our normal process on this, and the company will continue to move forward with whatever permit applications that it needs," he said. "It’s business as usual until we hear something different."

NY ENERGY OFFICIALS JUST LAID OUT OUR NUCLEAR OPTIONS. HERE ARE 7 TAKEAWAYS - Syracuse.com (Syracuse, NY) Website

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

NY ENERGY OFFICIALS JUST LAID OUT OUR NUCLEAR OPTIONS. HERE ARE 7 TAKEAWAYS

Syracuse.com (Syracuse, NY)

6/13/26

In more than 200 pages of documents released Friday, New York officials laid out for the first time the options for achieving Gov. Kathy Hochul’s goal of building large quantities of new nuclear power to energize the state’s future.

It’s going to cost billions, and New Yorkers are likely to help finance it. It will create thousands of jobs. The report doesn’t explicitly say so, but Nine Mile Point in Oswego County looks like a heavy favorite as the first site.

The “policy options paper’’ released Friday by the state Public Service Commission and the New York Energy Research and Development Authority is a preliminary document that is now open to public comment.

It offers the first detailed analysis of Hochul’s plan and how state officials might overcome the risks of starting construction on the state’s first new nuclear plants since the 1970s. Here are seven quick takeaways:

It’s not whether we build new nuclear plants, it’s how.

The options paper does not raise the question of whether New York should build 5 gigawatts of new nuclear power, even though there are skeptics who believe it’s a dubious plan. Rather, the document accepts the rationale that nuclear will be an important, if costly source of power in the low-emission grid of the future and examines potential solutions to the challenges it presents.

Benefits include healthier air, energy reliability, reduced land use compared with renewable power, and thousands of good-paying jobs. The costs? Among other things, New York residents could pay between $15 billion and $24 billion in subsidies over 25 years, the report says.

“The benefits and costs summarized here make the case for proceeding with around 5 GW of new nuclear generation,’’ the document says.

Time is of the essence.

There is a federal investment tax credit for advanced nuclear power plants that begin construction by 2033, after which the credit begins phasing out. The tax credit could be an important piece to overcome the obstacles to financing new nuclear plants.

In addition, New York’s electric grid could incur extra costs and pollution if it has to rely on interim power supplies because nuclear plants are delayed, according to the report.

Private investors won’t build nuclear without public help.

The free market carries too much financial risk for investors to fund nuclear plants entirely with private money, the report says. One option to overcome that is for the state to buy an equity share in a project. The report estimates that a 20% share in a 1-gigawatt plant would cost about $2 billion, for example. (Critics say that’s overly optimistic.)

“A public equity share could take multiple forms,’’ the report says. “NYSERDA and (the New York Power Authority) both have the authority to be equity holders. NYPA has already been tasked with developing at least 1 GW of new nuclear generation, and its involvement in this project could include an equity or ownership role for this project.”

Other alternatives to bring down the construction cost for private investors could include government construction grants and/or state debt financing.

NY ratepayers may have to subsidize operations, too.

Once the new plants are placed into operation, one possibility is that the state would adopt a subsidy program similar to what ratepayers currently pay for existing nuclear plants. The options paper describes this as an Advanced Nuclear Zero Emission Credit, modeled on the ZEC subsidies that the four existing NY reactors receive from utility ratepayers.

The ZEC program has cost ratepayers an average of roughly $500 million a year since 2017 and was recently extended until 2049.

NY ratepayers could be on the hook for cost overruns.

Nuclear plants are famous for cost overruns. That risk likely would have to be shared by New York residents, although private investors should share the burden, the paper says.

“A role for New York State in providing a partial state cost overrun guarantee – complementing risks that should be borne by the range of other project partners – should be considered to enable at least initial new nuclear deployment to go forward,’’ the report says.

Large reactors would be the fastest option.

Among advanced nuclear designs, only one -- the Westinghouse AP1000 – has been built and commercially operated in the United States, the document says. Two 1,100-megawatt units were built at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle in recent years, both of which suffered long delays and big cost overruns. But that experience may be preferable to the unknown risks facing other designs, including 300-megawatt small modular reactors, or SMRs, the paper says.

“This experience offers an argument in favor of choosing this design, since Westinghouse has benefited from lessons learned from the Vogtle plant, lowering the risk of cost overruns relative to even the more mature SMR options,’’ according to the paper.

The AP1000 likely would be quicker to deploy. “The larger size of the AP1000 is likely to facilitate a faster deployment schedule (on a per-GW basis) and therefore enable more capacity to be eligible for federal tax credits,’’ the paper says.

Existing sites would be cheaper than greenfields.

Construction costs could be reduced by up to 19% by building at existing sites or brownfields rather than at undeveloped greenfield locations, according to the paper.

That seems to argue strongly in favor of building at Nine Mile Point, the site of three existing reactors. The owners in 2008 applied to build a fourth reactor at the site but later withdrew the plan. This year, owner Constellation Energy Corp. received nearly $30 million in state and federal grants to apply for an early site permit to build additional nuclear capacity at Nine Mile Point. Federal regulators could take up to 18 months to review the application after it is filed.

““Large sites that can accommodate multiple units/GW, as well as deployment at existing/brownfield sites, offer additional cost efficiencies over multiple small and/or greenfield sites,’’ the paper says.

NYSERDA officials emphasize that the options paper is intended as a “comprehensive analysis” but not a policy recommendation. That will come later, following a comment period.

The PSC will accept comments on the document until Aug. 10. After reviewing the comments and technical presentations, PSC staff will produce a white paper by Nov.13 with policy recommendations. The PSC and NYSERDA are then expected to issue a “nuclear master plan’’ by the end of the year.

CONSTANTINO LEANS INTO TRUMP SUPPORT, BUSINESS RECORD IN NY-21 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY - North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY) Website

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

CONSTANTINO LEANS INTO TRUMP SUPPORT, BUSINESS RECORD IN NY-21 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)

6/12/26

The factory floor of Sticker Mule in Amsterdam, NY is busy fulfilling orders. Workers bounce between machines pumping out sheets of custom stickers.

It’s all part of the business that Anthony Constantino founded in 2010 - it’s now an international company that employs over 1,000 people across the globe.

But now Constantino is pursuing a new venture - he’s running for NY-21 as the only Republican candidate to receive President Donald Trump’s endorsement. He will face NYS Assemblyman Robert Smullen in the Republican primary on June 23, who has been endorsed by 12 of the 15 Republican county party chairs in the district.

If you peek out the first-floor window of the Sticker Mule factory in Amsterdam, you can see the massive “Vote for Trump” sign that set the stage for Constantino's eventual congressional candidacy.

“Politically, I didn’t expect to be running for office," said Constantino. "I just wanted to fight for the President and then people asked me to run."

"I talked to a guy named Roger Stone about it, he encouraged me to do it," Constantino added. "This was during the special election and it’s been going well ever since, I’ve won every poll."

Previously a private man, Constantino has based most of his public-facing image, that of a rowdy, outsider politician, on President Trump.

He’s hitched his campaign to his alignment with the president.

“I was raised by people from President Trump’s generation so maybe that’s why there’s some similarities there too. But, I think what the president did, in terms of showing his full personality, was very important," said Constantino.

"We have a problem in politics where people like to be fake, they like to present that—you have to be perfect to be successful. I want people to learn, I think the president wanted to show people too, you can have fun, you can joke. You don’t have to be this perfect person to be successful and to be effective. The No. 1 thing I want people to evaluate me on is whether I’m effective and whether I get things done for them,” said Constantino.

Just as Sticker Mule’s success came from riding the rising tide of internet-accessible companies, Constantino has utilized online virality to catapult his campaign.

The massive “Vote for Trump” sign he built atop one of his Amsterdam factories in October 2024, overlooking I-90, gained national attention.

Constantino then sent out an email to Sticker Mule customers, urging them to support Trump in the 2024 election, a move he says cost the company plenty of revenue.

But it all preceded Trump's endorsement of Constantino in April.

Constantino’s policies largely align with President Trump’s. He wants to eliminate what Republicans call illegal immigration and has said he’d prioritize making living in the North Country more affordable.

One of his more unique policy priorities seems to be centered on improving the region’s access to the internet. “The big one is the cell service and internet access. For me, as a technologist, as a business person, is very frustrating at the phones and sales aren't cell services and working," said Constantino.

"We actually just signed a deal with the distributor for Starlink, so we're looking at doing a site study with Starlink to see what it would take to bring Starlink here. What it would take in terms of cost, I might personally do a private pilot. We'll see what's going to happen, and then we'll have the numbers when I enter Congress to say this is what it would cost to bring to bring Starlink to the North Country,” said Constantino.

When speaking at campaign events and debates, Constantino has adopted some Trump mannerisms and the President’s signature hand gestures. As a result, some of his supporters give him MAGA-like enthusiasm.

Amsterdam native Robert Perretta was dressed in full Constantino swag while leaving a campaign event in May. He said he had been supporting the campaign prior to Trump’s endorsement and that Constantino’s business has been a boon for the city’s local economy.

“I wish him all the luck in the world. He’s going to have his hands full, I don’t know. It’s hard to say. Just his views and what he did for Amsterdam. Amsterdam needed some help, I don’t know what this mayor thinks here,” said Perretta.

Recent elections across the country, like May’s Republican primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District seat, seem to suggest Constantino’s out-and-out commitment to the president may be the right strategy in New York’s primary.

But Constantino says he’s not just ingratiating himself to the president for the sake of picking up votes.

“You can get a lot more done if you're friends with the president, and you can call him, and he likes you, so. I want to be friends with the President. I want to be friends with leadership. I want to be able to get things done,” said Constantino.

LOCAL FILMMAKERS’ FOOTAGE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN MONSTER ‘CHAMP’ GOES VIRAL - Adirondack Almanack (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

LOCAL FILMMAKERS’ FOOTAGE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN MONSTER ‘CHAMP’ GOES VIRAL

Adirondack Almanack (Saranac Lake, NY)

6/12/26

This week, drone footage captured by filmmakers Kelly Tabor and Richard Rossi in Bulwagga Bay showcasing a large, mysterious shape swimming in Lake Champlain went viral.

The footage—which features a distinct, large entity moving behind the filmmakers’ rowboat—has been hailed by viewers as proof of ‘Champ,’ the infamous Lake Champlain monster.

For Crown Point native Tabor, a retired schoolteacher who grew up looking across the water for the legendary creature, the sudden global spotlight is surreal.

“When I first saw the footage on the big screen during editing, my eyes were completely popping out,” Tabor said. “To see our hometown legend of Champ being debated and celebrated from New York to Tokyo is an incredible honor for our entire lake community.”

The high-definition drone footage was captured during the production of their children’s film, “Lucy and the Lake Monster.” Because the 11-foot rowboat is visible in the frame, the clip provides scale for the swimming mass. Producers from the History Channel series “The UnXplained with William Shatner” have called it the most compelling visual evidence of Champ since the 1977 Sandra Mansi photograph.

“We always wanted to honor the rich folklore of the Lake Champlain border region,” said co-director and actor Rossi. “This global momentum has been an encouraging spiritual spark plug as we work on our next sequel, ‘The Secrets of Lake Champlain.'”

$1.2M MADE AVAILABLE TO HELP NONPROFITS BETTER ACCESS RESOURCES - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

$1.2M MADE AVAILABLE TO HELP NONPROFITS BETTER ACCESS RESOURCES

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/11/26

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley has announced that New York State is allocating a $1.2 million grant for financial assistance to nonprofit organizations to have the technical assistance needed to strengthen the sector’s organizational capacity, sustainability, and access opportunities. Many nonprofit organizations face challenges in understanding and meeting grant requirements, especially for state and federal opportunities. This grant will provide the support nonprofits need to enhance their operational effectiveness and secure resources to carry out their vital work in their communities. This award will be offered for the next three years.

“At a time when every dollar counts to help others, the opportunity for nonprofits to improve their capacity to fight for resources needed to help communities will go a long way to help improve the lives of many New Yorkers,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Governor Hochul understands the needs of our partners in government and the mission they carry out in every region of our state and this $1.2 million grant will help maximize funding opportunities that will translate to a stronger New York because the investments will help ensure that nonprofits can continue to deliver to communities they serve.”

This grant will be administered by the New York Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services and will provide free technical assistance to nonprofits across New York State. This new state grant seeks to build organizational capacity, improve nonprofits' ability to maximize funding opportunities, expand programmatic impact, and ensure accountability to fiscal compliance standards that will in turn help them be able to apply for resources at a faster pace, perform the associated administrative requirements that come with additional resources and unify efforts to be ready to provide services. This grant will serve 200 Downstate nonprofits and 160 Upstate nonprofits annually and the funds for this year will be available starting on Tuesday, June 9. To apply for funding, please click here.

This funding will help remove barriers so that nonprofits can cover critical functions such as planning and execution of grant applications so that they can access essential funding to meet community needs, including serving distinctly different populations in different geographic locations, assisting with social services applications and improving the quality of life of many New Yorkers.

Caura N. Richardson, Director of the New York State Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services said, “Faith-based and nonprofit organizations are trusted anchors in communities across New York State, but many face real barriers when trying to access funding, meet compliance requirements, and build their long-term operational strength,”. “This grant opportunity responds directly to what we heard from organizations across all 62 counties: they need practical, hands-on support to become grant-ready, financially resilient, and better equipped to serve. Through this investment, OFNDS is helping strengthen the institutions that strengthen New York.”

New York State nonprofits contribute to the government by strengthening the safety net and delivering services to New York State’s neighbors through community services. The sector employs 1.3 million people and provides partnerships for arts, youth programming, faith-based community support, senior services, and food assistance. During a 62-county tour, the New York State Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services observed that many smaller nonprofits need more support to navigate the State’s requirements and grants.

SMULLEN SAYS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT CAN WIN HIM NY-21 - North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY) Website

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

SMULLEN SAYS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT CAN WIN HIM NY-21

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)

6/11/26

On a recent sunny, spring morning, members of the Clinton County Republican Party gathered at the Rainbow Banquet Hall in Altona to meet some high-profile state candidates, including 21st Congressional District hopeful Assemblyman Robert Smullen.

Anthony Constantino and Smullen have been trading barbs in a vicious primary campaign. The Clinton County GOP has endorsed Smullen, and folks attending this meet-and-greet reinforced that support. Morrisonville resident Ed Kirby said he “100%” supports Smullen.

“I’ve worked with him before, and he’s just a great guy, all around solid," said Kirby, "and I think he stands for the values that we look for,” he said.

Brandon Wallburg from Plattsburgh shared a similar sentiment.

“I am here to support Robert Smullen. He’s an individual that I respect. Our committee has endorsed Robert Smullen, and we stand by that,” Wallburg said.

Smullen has been endorsed by the state Republican Party and 12 of the 15 county GOP committees across the 21st District. Constantino has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. As he introduced Smullen to the crowd in Altona, Clinton County Republican Committee 1st Vice Chair Jeff Luck said that was a mistake.

“Assemblyman Robert Smullen understands leadership at the highest level. And I think everybody here knows that our President Trump clearly got it wrong,” he said.

Smullen is outgoing and gregarious as he meets Republican voters. The current 118th Assembly District representative sat down in a side room to tell WAMC just who he is.

“I’m actually from Meco, which is just outside of the city of Gloversville in Fulton County. That’s where I was born and raised,” he said. “Our family, we were brick masons. We had a hunting camp in the Adirondacks, which we still have today.

“I always wanted to go into the military, so I graduated from Gloversville High School in 1986, and I went to the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, a military college, and I took Naval ROTC, and that’s how I got into the Marine Corps. And altogether I did four deployments, 24 years in the Marine Corps and three combat tours to Afghanistan.”

Smullen traveled the world during his military career and has been to 78 countries.

“Upstate New York is a great place to be from. It’s a great place to live, to work, to raise a family and I think that’s how I got into politics,” Smullen said.

“When I got out of the Marine Corps in 2015, I had bought a farm. And then when the incumbent in the 118th Assembly District decided to retire, I ran for that office, and I was reelected three times unopposed in the 118th Assembly District.”

Smullen is a distinguished graduate of the National Defense University Eisenhower School and holds a master’s from Georgetown University. He served in the first Trump administration as a member of the Commission on White House Fellowships.

Now, he is setting his sights on Congress.

“I’m from here. I’ve led Marines in combat. I have worked at the Pentagon. I was a White House Fellow. All of those experiences, all of the issues of the day, I’ve been on the front lines of those, and I’ve worked very effectively in the state legislature representing the people already. So I know what to do, and I can be effective from day one,” he said.

If elected to represent New York’s 21st District, Smullen said his first priorities would focus on Trump administration policies.

“The first priorities are to make sure that the Trump agenda that's being implemented right now in many areas of New York state, that that would continue, Smullen said. “And a lot of that has to do with energy. At the federal level, we can bring energy policies into New York that will then help us become more competitive.

“We have big issues with our businesses of being competitive because of things like energy costs, insurance costs, the cost of doing business in New York state. So, we need to fix those, and I can actually work on those at the federal level.”

When WAMC asked if Smullen would push back on or oppose any of the president’s policies, he said, “Well, I’ll certainly be in favor of the policies that the people of this district want and need.”

New York’s primary is Tuesday, June 23, and early voting runs from June 13 to June 21.

NY STATE BUDGET GROWS $9 BILLION SINCE HOCHUL'S VICTORY LAP - North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY) Website

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

NY STATE BUDGET GROWS $9 BILLION SINCE HOCHUL'S VICTORY LAP

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)

6/11/26

New York state is on track to spend $277 billion this year – nearly $9 billion more than what Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last month when she proclaimed a "general agreement" on the budget.

The total figure – revealed late Wednesday in a financial plan posted by the state's budget division – shows spending has climbed almost 10% above the $254 billion figure enacted last year. The state begins its fiscal year on April 1.

Republicans and fiscal watchdogs said the higher spending is worrisome and called Hochul's use of a lower figure misleading.

"It's a sobering reminder of the reckless, irresponsible approach Albany takes when developing its annual spending plan," Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, a Nassau County Republican, said in a statement. "Albany Democrats demanded a blank check from New York taxpayers and signed it in the dark."

Budget division spokesperson Tim Ruffinen said in an email that most of the $9 billion increase reflected a plan to spend previously approved federal aid – which was sitting in a trust fund – to continue to provide subsidized health coverage to lawfully present immigrants.

New York is required under a 2001 state court decision to provide health insurance coverage to immigrants, though they aren't eligible for federal matching funds under the Medicaid program. The state obtained a waiver from the federal government in April to use older funds to continue to subsidize many of those immigrants' coverage through a different subsidized health plan.

"The updated All Funds number is a more accurate reflection that includes additional federal funding, a majority of which recently became eligible to spend," Ruffinen said, referring to the $277 billion figure that includes spending of state tax dollars and federal aid.

Hochul, a Democrat, previously said her budget was "delivering on affordability, on safety, on childcare, on the environment and on housing." But her announcement – during which she said the budget would run $268 billion – came before lawmakers had worked out details on a new pied-a-terre tax in New York City or a plan to sweeten public pension benefits.

In addition to the increase in all-funds spending, the new financial plan shows growing deficits, or gaps between what the government plans to spend and what it projects it will receive in taxes and federal aid.

The estimated deficit for the next three years increased by $3.8 billion to a combined $31.6 billion. That includes a $6.4 billion gap that lawmakers will need to close in the spring of 2027 if they hope to continue this year's higher spending on aid to school districts, major cities and childcare subsidies.

Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a fiscal watchdog, said the state missed an opportunity this year to direct extra revenue to reserve funds. He also said higher spending for education – including increases in aid to school districts where enrollment is declining – wasn't the best use of state resources.

"The state keeps on making choices that increase fiscal stress and risk a self-inflicted fiscal crisis," Rein said.

The state budget is large and multifaceted. It's approved in a total of 10 pieces of legislation, some of which allow spending by state agencies and authorize grants to programs or building projects. It also contains bills that set tax policy and rules for spending money.

This year, Hochul inserted other types of policies into some of the budget bills, including new rules designed to protect immigrants and a rollback of the state's climate law. Negotiations over policy pushed the adoption of the budget nearly two months past its April 1 due date, lawmakers said.

The financial plan released Wednesday provides a comprehensive summary of the spending contained in all those bills. It tallies up how much money is appropriated and for what. Rein said it should be released to the public before state lawmakers vote on the bills so everyone has a clearer picture of what's happening.

"The people deserve to know at that time of decision-making how their money is being spent, where the money goes, comes from, where it goes to, and what it means in the future," Rein said. "Hiding the truth from them is not helpful."

REV. WAR ARTIFACTS RECENTLY DISCOVERED, PRESERVED AT FORT TI - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

REV. WAR ARTIFACTS RECENTLY DISCOVERED, PRESERVED AT FORT TI

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/11/26

As part of its ongoing excavation and study of the famous Liberty Hill site, and just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence, Fort Ticonderoga is announcing the discovery, documentation and preservation of more than five hundred new artifacts at Liberty Hill — with several of the most compelling examples dating from the American Revolution in 1776.

The artifacts range from musket parts and personal effects, to actual regimental coat buttons from Northern Continental Army soldiers who spent time at Fort Ticonderoga in 1776. The artifacts were uncovered during a 2024 survey and excavation of the famed earthworks at Liberty Hill, less than a mile from the walls of Fort Ticonderoga. Images of those artifacts and the survey and dig process may be viewed and downloaded here (mandatory photo credit to Fort Ticonderoga). More information about the individual artifacts is available online at Fort Ticonderoga’s collections database.

“Liberty Hill is where the Declaration of Independence was read to the Continental Army at Ticonderoga for the first time, in July 1776. It is the moment when the Northern Department of the Continental Army, exhausted by their defeat and retreat from Québec, and ravaged by disease, first heard their purpose and mission: to defend the liberty of their fledgling nation from the aggressive tyranny of British rule,” said Beth L. Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “Discovering tangible evidence of those foundational moments of our 250-year-old nation is a tremendous honor and reinforces the importance of Fort Ticonderoga in the American lineage of freedom, from 1776 to today.”

Liberty Hill was also the site of one of the bloodiest conflicts of the French and Indian War in 1758: the Battle of Carillon. This battle, which saw the outmanned French defeat a superior British force, confirmed the site’s strategic importance to control of the continent and fed its legend as an impregnable position at the junction of Lake George and Lake Champlain. Numerous artifacts from the Battle of Carillon are in Fort Ticonderoga’s collection, including some from this latest find.

“Fort Ticonderoga’s reputation today as a museum and historic site is founded on its notoriety in the 18th century: a key stronghold built on generations of military experience intimately connected to the arc of North American history,” said Dr. Matthew Keagle, Fort Ticonderoga Curator. “We are grateful to our many partners who advised and participated in the numerous surveys, digs and conservation efforts that have helped preserve these invaluable new artifacts in our expanding collection at Fort Ticonderoga.”

The surveys and digs were assisted by the consulting archaeology program at the University of Vermont, and American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR), which trains modern military veterans in professional, research-driven archaeology services.

“At AVAR, we see veterans reconnect with one another and find renewed purpose by engaging directly with landscapes of conflict,” said Stephen Humphreys, AVAR Founder and CEO. “Liberty Hill is a complex multi-phase conflict site that required discipline, attention to detail and teamwork; our veteran team was honored to take part in this project in 2024 and 2026 and hopes to continue working at Fort Ticonderoga in the future.”

"It was an honor and privilege for the University of Vermont to partner with Fort Ticonderoga and be involved in some of the first systematic archaeology ever conducted at Liberty Hill,” said Dr. John G. Crock, Director of the Consulting Archaeology Program at the University of Vermont. “The site stands out as one of the most intact and best-preserved fort and battlefield sites in the country, a tribute to those who served and those who have worked hard to protect it for the last 250 years. It is a truly amazing heritage resource with limitless stories to tell."

The newly discovered artifacts are not currently on display but will be considered as part of future exhibits. Currently, Fort Ticonderoga is in the midst of a five-year series, “A Revolutionary Anthology” at its Mars Education Center. The current installment, “Revolutionary Possibilities,” features stories of people and places transformed through the complex, diverse world of the American Revolution. In addition and only for the month of July 2026, Fort Ticonderoga will display one of its most significant objects: Benjamin Warner’s Knapsack, carried by Revolutionary War soldier Benjamin Warner and handed down to his descendants. The knapsack and its accompanying handwritten message call on future generations to defend America’s hard-won liberty against all threats.

GENDEBIEN SAYS HE'S THE DEMOCRAT WHO CAN TRANSCEND THE POLITICAL DIVIDE IN NY-21 - North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY) Website

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

GENDEBIEN SAYS HE'S THE DEMOCRAT WHO CAN TRANSCEND THE POLITICAL DIVIDE IN NY-21

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)

6/10/26

In a pastel plaid shirt, blue jeans, and clean boots, Blake Gendebien looked the part of the farmer all cleaned up after a hard day’s work as he made his way onto the stage at a "Meet the Candidates" event at the Old Waddington Town Hall in St. Lawrence County last month.

"Today, Kyler and I planted about a hundred acres of corn," he told the crowd, referring to one of his campaign aides. "While we planted corn, he was in the instructor’s seat giving me names to call and people to keep in touch with because it’s really important to multi-task, right?"

A homegrown North Country candidate

Gendebien was no stranger at the event. He hugged many of the approximately 80 people in the crowd.

St. Lawrence County is Gendebien’s home turf. He was born and raised in Lisbon and returned to the area a few years after college. He and his wife, Carmen, raised their three sons on a dairy farm that’s grown to 500 cows and 1,200 acres.

The couple also co-founded the Jules of Life Foundation, which helps local families of children with cancer. Gendebien has served as president of the Lisbon school board and vice chair of the board of Agri-Mark, the largest dairy cooperative in the northeast.

"It’s these experiences that have shown me just how awesome the North Country is, but it also showed me how Washington has completely forgotten us," he said.

That phrase—"Washington has completely forgotten us"—is a refrain Gendebien has repeated throughout his nearly 18-month campaign for New York’s 21st Congressional District.

Back in December 2024, Gendebien threw his hat in the ring for an anticipated special election to replace North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik after President Donald Trump nominated her the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The district’s 15 county party chairs unanimously voted Gendebien their presumptive nominee. Trump ultimately pulled Stefanik’s nomination and the special election never happened.

But Gendebien stayed on the campaign trail. Now, in order to secure the Democratic line on the November ballot, he needs to defeat Lake Placid businessman Stuart Amoriell in the June 23 primary.

Gendebien is viewed as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary. He’s raised almost $4.7 million, more than 40 times what Amoriell has reported.

Gendebien has also had plenty of time to build name recognition and home in on his priorities: lowering costs, fighting dysfunction in D.C., and saving rural health care.

"Right now our rural hospitals are tied to the railroad tracks and the Medicaid cuts are coming in November, they’re barreling towards them," he said in an interview. "I want to be part of the solution that helps untie our hospitals and make them successful again."

Gendebien said he also wants to fix what he describes as a “broken immigration system.” For him, that’s about securing the border and deporting people in the country illegally with due process, but also the creation of a year-round guest worker program for agriculture.

Gendebien said that’ll help cut costs at farms and food processing facilities.

"And when we do that, we can drive down costs at the grocery store for everyone," he said. "And when we show that it works for agriculture, we can show that it works for health care as well."

Support from the Democratic establishment

Gendebien’s stances on immigration and health care resonate with Bob Ladouceur of Canton, who was at the event in Waddington. He said they reflect the community in NY-21.

"Not just as people that grew up in this area, but the people that come here from different parts of the country, from different parts of the world," he said. "We all need to learn to live together and to be very productive members of society and I think that Blake supports that."

Gendebien’s approach has also caught the eye of congressional Democrats. He’s part of a joint fundraising effort with Jamie Raskin of Maryland and touts endorsements from members of New York’s delegation.

State Democrats have added Gendebien’s campaign to a coordinated effort to expand their numbers in the midterms. At the Democratic Rural Conference in Saratoga Springs last month, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York talked up Gendebien and said he understands rural America.

"He is going to be phenomenal—and he is going to win," she said. "You heard it from me first: he is going to win New York 21."

**Can his campaign appeal to progressives and conservatives?**

Gendebien’s campaign coincides with something of an identity crisis for Democrats in the US, with moderates and progressives fighting over which direction their party should go.

Gendebien has described himself in the past as a very conservative, blue dog Democrat who’s a “pragmatic, moderate reflection” of the district. He’s the kind of candidate NY-21 Democrats have been comfortable running, like former Congressman Bill Owens or Matt Castelli, who ran as a moderate four years ago.

But Castelli still lost to incumbent Congresswoman Elise Stefanik by 18 points. Even though the district is now solidly red, Sean Myers of Potsdam wondered if North Country Democrats should try something different.

"The establishment Democrats keep running centrists, and we keep losing. Maybe a change—or something."

Myers said he plans to vote for Amoriell, who has voiced support for more progressive positions like universal health care, in this month's primary.

For his part, Gendebien insisted that progressives in his party are important to him and that he wants to hear feedback from folks across the political spectrum. He said he believes his candidacy can transcend party lines, reaching Republicans and Trump supporters.

"When my neighbor’s barn burns, I don’t ask them their party affiliation before I take their cows, house them at my place, feed them at my place, and milk them at my place to take care of them before they have a new barn," he said.

"People are tired of partisan games, partisan bickering," Gendebien added. "They want somebody who’s going to get to work for them and they know that I am the candidate and I am the person that can deliver for everyone on both sides of the aisle."

Gendebien has secured the independent Lower Costs Now party line, which he said is part of his philosophy of supporting everyone in the North Country regardless of party.

That means he could remain on the ballot in November even if he loses the Democratic primary. But he said he’ll support whoever wins that nomination.

HOPE FOR HEMLOCKS - Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY) Website

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

HOPE FOR HEMLOCKS

Lake George Mirror (Lake George, NY)

6/10/26

A species of silver fly, an instrument for controlling the invasive aphid-like insect hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA), has established itself in upstate New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation has announced.

The Cornell University-based New York State Hemlock Initiative (NYHI), which has been importing the bugs from the Pacific Northwest and raising the flies in its laboratory for nearly a decade, confirmed that a self-sustaining population has been documented in the Finger Lakes area.

Once established, a silver fly population will expand and spread beyond the original point of introduction, becoming part of a permanent, biological check on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, which was first encountered on Lake George in 2017.

According to Dr. Mark Whitmore, the director of the NYHI, the discovery of a self-sustaining population of the species of silver fly, Leucotaraxis argenticollis “is huge news, offering hope for the effective biological control of HWA in the Lake George basin” and other parts of the Adirondacks where the invasive pest has been found, such as the Champlain Valley and Great Sacandaga Lake.

“Introducing a predator from another area, importing it to one where the targeted pest is enemy-free, is classic biological control,” said Whitmore. “Establishing a population of predators is one of the most difficult steps in the process, but also the most important.”

The discovery of an established silver fly population “marks an important step forward in HWA control and hemlock conservation,” the DEC stated.

If a population of silver flies has established itself in the Finger Lakes area, it is safe to say that others are now colonizing other areas of the state, where the NYHI and the DEC also released silver flies, said Whitmore.

“We just need to look for them, which is what we will be doing,” said Whitmore.

Whitmore said a recent experiment by a team of entomologists found that Leucotaraxis argenticollis, the species that established itself in the Finger Lakes, can survive winters in the coldest parts of New York State.

Laricobius nigrinus (or “Little Larry”)

Researchers are focusing their attention not only on silver flies but on a beetle, Laricobius nigrinus, also from the Pacific Northwest.

According to the DEC, the beetles feed on adolescent and adult HWA during the fall and winter while the silver flies prey on the aphid’s eggs in the spring. According to the DEC, unleashing silver flies “complements the release of the beetles.”

“The goal of these deployments of predatory insects is to establish stable populations in the area and provide long-term, year-round protection for the region’s hemlock forests,” the DEC stated.

According to the DEC, “beetles have been thriving, with established populations at 18 release sites and documented long-distance dispersal in the Finger Lakes, Lower Hudson, and Catskills regions.”

Jason Denham, a DEC Forester, speaking at the April meeting of the Adirondack Research Consortium in Lake Placid, noted, “Last year, the DEC collected 12,000 beetles from a site where they had been released previously and redistributed them across New York State.”

The success of the beetles in establishing local populations suggests that silver flies may also be able to take hold and contribute to long-term biological control, the DEC stated

Mark Whitmore emphasized that populations of both predators – the silver fly and the beetle – must both establish themselves, if not simultaneously, then at least permanently and within proximity of one another, if they are to effectively control the spread of HWA.

The Lake George Hemlock Coalition

Members of the Lake George Hemlock Coalition, which was established in 2024 to develop a unified, comprehensive approach to the protection of the area’s hemlock forests, welcomed the reports that a silver fly population has established itself in New York State.

“Biological controls have really positive implications for the future in the Adirondacks,” said Jason Denham, the DEC forester who now represents the DEC in the Lake George Hemlock Coalition. “I’m very optimistic that there will be a reliable source of predators that we can continually redistribute across New York State.”

As the largest single landowner in the Lake George watershed, New York State can’t help but play an outsized role in controlling the spread of HWA on Lake George, said Denham.

“The DEC is actively engaged in managing those lands for HWA,” Denham said.

“Bio-controls offer long-term hope that we can maintain healthy hemlock forests here at Lake George, where they can continue to deliver water quality for streams, habitat for birds and animals and scenic beauty,” said Mike Horn, executive director of the Lake George Land Conservancy. “These trees define our forests.”

According to Horn, both the beetle and the silver fly have been released at the Conservancy’s Clark Hollow Bay Preserve on northern Lake George, where HWA was discovered in 2023.

“The New York State Hemlock Initiative identified Clark Hollow Bay Preserve as a great ‘host site’ for the insects,” said Horn. “It provided us with the insects, which we released under the supervision of its researchers and technicians.”

Earlier this spring, Hemlock Initiative researchers returned to Clark Hollow Bay to determine if a population of beetles had established itself there.

“We’re very excited,” said Horn. “We hope the natural predators establish themselves and create a long-term, cyclical, predator-prey balance.”

The Lake George Land Conservancy is a founding member of the Hemlock Coalition, which also includes the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program of The Nature Conservancy (APIPP); the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board (LCLGRPB); the Lake George Association (LGA); the Lake George Park Commission (LGPC); the NYS Hemlock Initiative of Cornell University; Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District; and Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District. It was created with the support of a $108,000 grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

The DEC is also a member. According to the agency’s Jason Denham, “The DEC acts as the coalition’s technical advisor on how best to manage this particular pest.”

Since it was established in 2024, the coalition’s efforts to coordinate research, surveys, treatments, long-term planning and public outreach have been supported and assisted by the DEC.

“And that’s aligned with the DEC’s mission – working in partnership with groups to manage different invasive species even on lands that are not part of the Forest Preserve,” said Denham.

According to Denham, the DEC has had a Forest Action Plan since 2020 “to keep all New York forests healthy, not just those managed by the DEC. We need partnerships with groups like the Lake George Hemlock Coalition to direct technical assistance and funding to the places where it can be most helpful.”

Other Tools for Managing HWA

Over the past year, the New York State Hemlock Institute has released more than 45,000 insects naturally engineered to prey on HWA and will continue to monitor their progress in establishing themselves throughout the state, the institute stated in a press release.

Until the natural predators establish themselves in the Lake George watershed, the most effective method of controlling HWA remains insecticides, the Lake George Hemlock Coalition states. According to the DEC, two different insecticides, one fast-acting, killing the insect before it can reproduce, the other affording the tree long-term protection, are applied to bark near the base of the tree and absorbed through its tissue. When HWA attaches itself to the tree to feed, it receives a dose of the pesticide and is killed.

STATE SECURES $140M FOR COUNTERTERRORISM, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

STATE SECURES $140M FOR COUNTERTERRORISM, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/10/26

Gov. Hochul has announced that nearly $140 million in federal funding is available to support counterterrorism and emergency preparedness efforts across the state. The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its FY 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program and its Emergency Management Performance Grant, supports regional homeland security preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise activities which are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services manages these programs in close coordination with local stakeholders.

“Threat landscapes are constantly evolving, and it is vital that our communities are prepared for anything that may come their way,” Gov. Hochul said. “With this funding, we’re making sure our partners at every level of government have the training and resources needed to keep New Yorkers safe. We are grateful to our federal partners for their assistance in securing these grants to help make New York a safer and more secure place for all.”

FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program is made up from three separate risk-based grants aimed at assisting state, local and tribal efforts in preventing, preparing for, protecting against and responding to acts of terrorism. Those programs are the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative and Operation Stonegarden.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Terry O’Leary said, “Keeping New Yorkers safe from all threats is our top priority and this commitment from our federal partners in fighting terrorism is critical when it comes to the State's preparedness capabilities. These grants help support our State agencies and local partners by ensuring law enforcement and first responders have the resources, training, and equipment they need to prevent harm and keep us all safe.”

Sen. Charles Schumer said, “From Buffalo to Long Island, nearly $140 million in federal funding is being invested to ensure that communities across New York are prepared to prevent and respond to natural emergencies and security threats. I’ve long fought to boost funding for FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program so communities could prepare for whatever emergencies might come our way. I’m thrilled this program is again delivering for New York today, helping increase resiliency against cybersecurity and terrorist attacks, strengthen information-sharing for local and federal law enforcement, and boost resilience to natural disasters. I’m grateful for Gov. Hochul’s work putting these federal dollars to good use, protecting our communities.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Equipping New York communities with the resources needed to respond to emergencies is crucial to saving lives. This $140 million will support law enforcement and first responders in their critical work to prevent terrorism and natural disasters from harming our state. I am proud to have secured this funding and will continue to fight for federal resources to help keep our communities safe.”

STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM: $38.2 million

The State Homeland Security Program provides funding to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic disasters. Per federal guidelines, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services awards 80 percent of this funding to local jurisdictions. This includes the list of awards below, as well as additional funding for the State’s twelve FBI-accredited local bomb squads which will be made available in the coming months. The remaining 20 percent of funding is used by the state to further enhance New York’s counterterrorism and emergency preparedness posture statewide.

Awards by County

Clinton $80,372
Essex $64,297
Franklin $37,507
Hamilton $19,865
Warren $42,865

URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE: $92.2 million

This funding is awarded to jurisdictions in the New York City metropolitan area under the Urban Area Security Initiative grant. The region will use this money to sustain and enhance their critical anti-terrorism programs. Based on federal guidelines, 80percent of the award is allocated to partners in the region's Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), using a consensus-based process. The UAWG partners include: New York City; Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties; the City of Yonkers; and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. The remaining 20 percent of funding is used by the state to further enhance New York’s counterterrorism and emergency preparedness posture within the urban area.

OPERATION STONEGARDEN GRANT PROGRAM: $2.7 million

This grant provides critical funding to enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies through the support of joint operations which are conducted along the northern border.

Awards by County

Clinton $250,000
Franklin $280,000

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT (EMPG): $6.6 million

Gov. Hochul also announced $6.6 million in federal funding was awarded to county emergency management agencies in New York State to support planning and operational readiness for disaster response. Through the annual federal Emergency Management Performance Grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this funding assists efforts ranging from development and implementation of training and exercises to acquiring emergency response resources at the county level.

Funding may be used to support:
Management and administration activities
Planning
Staffing for Emergency Management Agencies
Equipment
Training and exercises
Construction and renovation of Emergency Operations Centers.
Maintenance and sustainment of GIS and interoperable communications systems

Awards by County

Clinton $29,958
Essex $16,683
Franklin $19,865
Hamilton $6,596
Warren $24,548

NY LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRINGS INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION, CLEAN WATER; SETBACK ON CLIMATE, STATUS QUO ON ROAD SALT (PRESS RELEASE) - Adirondack Council (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

NY LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRINGS INVESTMENTS IN CONSERVATION, CLEAN WATER; SETBACK ON CLIMATE, STATUS QUO ON ROAD SALT (PRESS RELEASE)

Adirondack Council (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/9/26

New York’s 2026 legislative session produced a mix of significant victories and notable disappointments, following one of the most compressed legislative calendars in recent memory, as delayed state budget negotiations left lawmakers with only a few days to advance major policy priorities before adjournment.

“For the Adirondacks, the final state budget included substantial investments in conservation, clean water, and community-support programs that will benefit the communities and ecology of the Adirondacks,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre. “Now that the session has ended, we will urge the Governor to sign legislation lifting the prohibition on deer management permits in the Northern Zone to curb forest damage from deer over-browsing and the spread of tick-borne illness.” We will also urge the Governor to sign the Good Food New York Bill that would make it easier for local farmers to compete for state institutional food contracts by eliminating outdated procurement rules.”

The fiscal year 2026-27 state budget contained $525 million for clean water infrastructure and septic system replacement, a $25 million increase over last year, plus $175 million in new funding for water infrastructure that promotes affordable housing development and $50 million in new funding for water infrastructure that supports rural communities. The Environmental Protection Fund was approved at $425 million, continuing funding levels from last year.

Additional highlights include the state’s commitments to science, celebrating an additional $2 million for a Survey of Climate and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), bringing total appropriations for the project to $8.5 million of an anticipated $12.5 million total project cost. The state continues additional investments in clean water and clean air research, with support for the Adirondack Watershed Institute ($200k) and SUNY Albany’s Whiteface Atmospheric Research Station ($200k).

However, the delayed budget process left too little time to advance other important legislation, including critical road salt legislation, Aguirre said.

“We thank all of those who expressed their support for the Road Salt Right to Know Act and Road Salt Training Legislation, bills that would have standardized data collection, equipment calibration, and training for winter road maintenance programs across our state,” said Aguirre. “The bills produced hundreds of letters of support, including memos from environment and conservation groups, water operators, the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus, and many more. With such broad support, we remain hopeful that these bills will pass in 2027.

“Road salt is increasingly contaminating freshwater resources, across the Adirondack Park, as well as the rest of New York State. Not only are our lakes and wells being contaminated in the Adirondacks, but so are the reservoirs that provide New York City’s drinking water. Road salt also has a very real financial cost as it has been proven to cause significant damage to automobiles and transportation infrastructure, creating a hidden tax on the people of New York.

“Knowing how much salt is applied to our roads is the first basic step towards safe and smart road salt reduction,” Aguirre said. “The bill doesn’t limit the amount of salt being used, it only requires DOT to keep track and make that data accessible to the public.”

The Road Salt Right to Know Act (A.11105/ S.10094) passed the Senate but was held in the Assembly Transportation Committee. The Road Salt Training bill (A.10050a / S. 5010b), which would have required training in best management practices for winter road maintenance operators, did not advance in either house. The Road Salt Right to Know Act is sponsored by William Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, who chairs the transportation committee. Road Salt Training Legislation is sponsored by Mary Jane Shimsky, D-Greenburgh. Both bills are sponsored by Pete Harckham, D-Peekskill, in the Senate.

Founded in 1975, the Adirondack Council is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization committed to protecting the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. For over 50 years, the Adirondack Council has championed the Park in Albany, and Washington, D.C. through public education, advocacy, environmental monitoring, and legal action when necessary.

The Park contains one of the largest intact temperate forests left in the world and is home to approximately 130,000 year-round residents. The Council advances its mission through research, education, advocacy, and legal action. It envisions an Adirondack Park with clean air and water, core wilderness areas, working forests and farms, and inclusive, thriving communities.

KATHY MOSER CONFIRMED AS NYS PARKS COMMISSIONER - Adirondack Explorer (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

KATHY MOSER CONFIRMED AS NYS PARKS COMMISSIONER

Adirondack Explorer (Saranac Lake, NY)

6/6/26

In the last week of the legislative session, the state Senate confirmed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pick, Kathy Moser, to lead the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Moser was the former chief conservation and policy officer at the Open Space Institute, and often advocated for policies to streamline the state’s land acquisition process, including for purchases and easements in the Adirondack Park.

Hochul appointed Moser, of Albany, to the post in October 2025. The Senate confirmed her on June 3.

Moser said she was honored by the appointment and grateful for the confirmation.

“The public trust placed in stewarding the New York State Park system–one of our greatest assets–is a responsibility I take very seriously,” she said in a statement. “Our State Parks are fundamentally about affordability, wellness, and access. At a time when families are looking for ways to stay healthy, connected, and engaged, our parks provide something increasingly rare–spaces that are open, welcoming, and within reach for every New Yorker.”

Moser takes the place of former Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, who left the state leadership position to run the Open Space Institute in 2024.

Kulleseid said “there is no one better suited to take on this role at such an important moment for our state’s parks and public lands.”

Moser also has past experience with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. She was the deputy commissioner of Natural Resources from 2011 to 2018. She also worked for The Nature Conservancy for about 17 years in various positions, including as the deputy state director for conservation for New York.

Moser has degrees in botany and forest productivity from Duke University.

STATE LAWMAKERS PASS ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON LARGE DATA CENTERS - Adirondack Explorer (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

STATE LAWMAKERS PASS ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON LARGE DATA CENTERS

Adirondack Explorer (Sarnac Lake, NY)

6/5/26

New York may be one of the first states in the nation to pass a one-year moratorium on the permitting of data centers 20 megawatts or larger, pending Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.

State lawmakers passed the moratorium bill on Thursday. The legislation is called the “Responsible Data Center Development Act,” and garnered mixed reaction from Adirondack Park lawmakers, concern from industry representatives and praise from environmental groups.

The Adirondack Park Agency, which oversees public and private development in the approximately 6-million-acre park, has received indication of one vague proposal for a data center in the town of Dresden, a Washington County community of about 500 people, sandwiched between Lake George and Lake Champlain.

It’s unclear if this legislation, should it be signed into law, would apply to that project.

A spotlight on Dresden

The APA preapplication from Alternative Green Investment Florida LLC, is for a battery energy storage system along state Route 22 near a National Grid substation and the west shore of Lake Champlain’s South Bay.

A map in the record indicates a possible data center of unknown wattage north of the battery storage site. There is no other information about it in the preapplication materials.

Carlos Albarracin, a project developer for the company, said on Friday that they are focused on the battery energy storage project feasibility, but did not rule out a data center proposal.

The investment firm on the preapplication is part of a company called Alternative Green Energy (AGE), which is part of a larger European company called Transworld Solar Group, with headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. Albarracin focuses on “the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects, with a current focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and energy infrastructure for data centers across North America and Australia,” according to his LinkedIn profile.

“The reference to a data center on the early concept map was included only to show a possible future area of interest near existing electrical infrastructure,” Albarracin said. “It is not part of any current application, and there is no active data center proposal or review process underway at this time. Right now, our focus is simply to understand whether a BESS (battery energy storage system) project at this location is feasible from a technical, environmental, and permitting standpoint.”

The Dresden town supervisor and two board members resigned earlier this year, leaving the board without a quorum.

The two current board members, Allen Wilbur and Marilyn Borden, said they’re unable to convene any public hearings or zoning considerations around battery energy storage or data centers. The board must wait for Hochul to appoint at least one member to take any action, or the board will have to wait until next year after November elections.

The legislation

The data center bill, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Didi Barrett from the mid-Husdon Valley, notes that data centers, primarily fueled by an increase in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, are “driving up electricity rates, putting a strain on the electric grid, requiring additional fossil fuel usage, increasing water consumption, and placing pressure on local utility infrastructure, the costs of which often get passed on to ratepayers.”

The act requires the state Department of Environmental Conservation to create an environmental impact report on data center development across the state by 18 months after it is signed into law. Lawmakers want that report to include:

Projections of future data centers;
Active proposals for new data centers;
Information on existing data centers;
Electricity and water consumption of data centers;
Potential pollutants of data centers;
Any potential health impacts from data centers; and
Information on public funds that may be received by data centers.

The act excludes data centers under 20 megawatts and those “majority-owned or operated, or otherwise controlled by a public research institution and used for research purposes.”

The act also requires the DEC to hold a public hearing in a host community for any data center 20 megawatts or larger.

The bill requires data center companies to pay for the cost of grid and water system upgrades.

A range of reactions

But a part of the legislation has one Adirondack Park lawmaker calling the act “a Trojan horse” for renewable energy development.

“While it claims to address concerns about data centers, it actually demands the massive expansion of solar energy projects that will only further jeopardize our green spaces, forests and farmland across the North Country and the Adirondacks,” said state Assemblymember Matthew Simpson, R-Adirondack. “New Yorkers need an honest ‘all of the above’ energy strategy. This effectively limits our energy diversity and shuts out nuclear and natural gas as viable options.”

Simpson is referring to the act’s proposed amendments to the state’s energy law that would require data centers 5-megawatts or larger to meet renewable energy benchmarks starting in the year 2030 through the year 2040. By 2040, the proposed law would require at least 90% of the center’s electricity consumption come from renewable energy sources.

Simpson believes this part of the act shoehorns green energy policy into the “warranted” moratorium and side-steps communities’ decision making on land use.

Democratic Assemblymember Michael Cashman, of Plattsburgh, cosponsored the legislation, though he had hoped for a three-year moratorium.

“This 1-year moratorium will not solve the underlying problems with our regional capacity or social concerns that come with introducing these data centers,” Cashman said. “It would give the state time to recalibrate and look deeper into the harms these data centers pose, opening doors for future pause extensions or entire bans if deemed necessary.”

NY Renews, a coalition of 400 environmental justice, labor and community groups and advocates of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, praised the bill and called on Hochul to sign it.

Executive Director Stephan Edel described data centers as providing “limited benefits to working people while enriching the tech oligarchy.”

“The tech advancements they offer pale in comparison to the harms that, unregulated, have the potential to cause to communities statewide, especially rural and Indigenous communities, where so many of these centers have been proposed to be sited,” Edel said.

Data center stakeholders were opposed to the act.

The Digital Power Network, which represents a coalition of Bitcoin miners and other digital infrastructure groups, said the act “would destabilize the regulatory environment for advanced computing infrastructure at the very moment such infrastructure is a strategic national priority.”

The network was particularly concerned about the act’s introduction of “financing risk through unquantifiable cost attribution.”

STEFANIK ADVANCES NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

STEFANIK ADVANCES NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/5/26

On Friday, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 out of Committee.

"Today, as a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I was proud to help lead and shape this year’s national defense bill to strengthen our military in the face of rapidly evolving threats. This legislation restores peace through strength by rebuilding our defense industrial base, modernizing our military acquisition system, accelerating emerging technologies, and increasing the readiness and lethality of America’s fighting force,” said Chairwoman Stefanik.

“As the leading advocate for Fort Drum, the 10th Mountain Division, Rome Labs, and Upstate New York, I am proud to announce that I secured critical provisions and funding priorities that will strengthen our national security, support military families, expand cutting-edge defense innovation, and reinforce New York’s 21st Congressional District as a cornerstone of America’s defense and technological superiority. These provisions directly support President Trump’s America First national security agenda and ensure the United States remains the strongest military power in the world.”

The FY27 NDAA authorizes $1.15 trillion in investment in national defense modernization, emerging technologies, military readiness, missile defense, and servicemember quality of life - areas that I have led on throughout my tenure in Congress.

The House version of the NDAA will next be considered by the full House of Representatives.

Chairwoman Stefanik secured numerous provisions to support Fort Drum, the 10th Mountain Division, Rome Labs, Upstate New York, military families, America’s defense industrial base, and our strategic allies, including the following:

STRENGTHENING FORT DRUM AND THE 10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION

Directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services regarding next-generation weapons systems and Army modernization efforts.
Supports continued multi-domain operational modernization and experimentation activities benefiting Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division.
Requires the Secretary of the Army to establish a plan to diversify counter-unmanned aircraft systems to better protect American forces from evolving drone threats.
Supports operational experimentation and advanced lethality modernization initiatives benefiting close combat formations.
Supports continued investments in multi-domain operational readiness and contested environment modernization.

DELIVERING MAJOR WINS FOR ROME LABS, UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND THE NORTH COUNTRY

Secured more than $38 million in committee-approved funding and authorizations supporting quantum computing, quantum networking, defense innovation, operational experimentation, and next-generation military technologies.
Secured $10 million to support quantum entanglement distribution research, advancing next-generation secure military communications and resilient networking capabilities.
Secured $10 million to demonstrate a Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Quantum System, strengthening America's ability to operate in contested environments where GPS may be degraded or denied.
Secured $5 million for Ion-Trap Quantum Computer research supporting next-generation Air Force applications and operational capabilities.
Secured $3 million to expand Defense Innovation Unit ONRAMP activities that accelerate the transition of innovative technologies from startups and nontraditional defense contractors to warfighters.
Authorizes $2.5 million for the Future Flag Operational Experimentation Testbed supporting Air Force Research Laboratory Rome and operational experimentation activities conducted in Lewis, New York.
Authorizes $2.5 million for Photonic Quantum Computing research and operational transition activities associated with Air Force Research Laboratory Rome.
Authorizes $2.5 million for Distributed Quantum Networking Testbed and Quantum Cloud Computing Environment activities supporting secure military communications and operational resilience.
Authorizes $2.5 million for Autonomous Battle Management Across the Full Spectrum of Conflict (ABaMASC) supporting next-generation operational command and control capabilities.
Supports continued Air Force Research Laboratory quantum modernization initiatives and operational experimentation efforts.
Supports advanced LiDAR-enabled Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) technologies to improve force protection against emerging drone threats.
Directs the Department of Defense to provide a report on the use of rare earth magnets and recognizes the importance of establishing a secure domestic supply chain for critical materials and permanent magnets.
Directs the Department of Defense to provide a report regarding domestic production capabilities for aluminum-lithium alloys manufactured in Massena, New York.
Supports strengthening the Northeast defense innovation ecosystem and opportunities for nontraditional defense contractors.
Supports expansion of quantum networking, artificial intelligence, operational experimentation, and defense innovation partnerships across New York’s 21st District.

SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES AND SERVICEMEMBERS

Supports the largest pay raise and compensation improvements for servicemembers and their families, strengthening recruitment, retention, and military readiness.
Includes provisions to reduce challenges military families encounter when relocating across state lines, particularly regarding school enrollment, credit transfers, academic continuity, and access to special education services.
Supports Department of Defense Impact Aid programs that help school districts serving Fort Drum military families meet the unique needs of military-connected students.
Requests a pilot program focused on improving childcare workforce compensation and expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare for military families.
Requires a report evaluating Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) policies regarding student cell phone usage and screen time impacts to support student achievement and well-being.
Strengthens military housing oversight and quality-of-life initiatives to improve living conditions for servicemembers and their families.
Expands support for spouse employment, educational opportunities, and family readiness programs that help military families thrive while serving our nation.

SUPPORTING AMERICA'S ALLY ISRAEL

Requests a report on the current status, condition, and adequacy of the War Reserves Stockpile for Allies–Israel (WRSA-I) to ensure critical readiness and deterrence capabilities.
Modifies and extends the United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Program through 2028 to strengthen joint efforts against terrorist tunnel networks.
Modifies and extends United States-Israel Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UAS) cooperation authorities to improve defenses against evolving drone threats.
Authorizes robust funding for United States-Israel cooperative missile defense and security programs, reinforcing America's commitment to Israel's security.
Establishes expanded emerging technology cooperation initiatives with Israel focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum technologies, automation, and other critical defense capabilities.
Strengthens bilateral defense research, development, testing, and evaluation efforts to accelerate innovation and maintain our shared technological edge.
Reinforces the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel in the face of growing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies.

CONFRONTING COMMUNIST CHINA AND FOREIGN ADVERSARIES

Prohibits defense companies from contracting with the Department of Defense if they work with Chinese military companies or their subsidiaries.
Secured inclusion of the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act, requiring motor carriers transporting Department of Defense freight to certify that they are not owned, controlled by, or maintaining significant business relationships with Chinese military companies identified under the Department of Defense's Section 1260H list.
Establishes a Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry to strengthen national security vetting of motor carriers handling Department of Defense freight and help prevent adversary-linked entities from accessing sensitive military supply chains.
Establishes additional safeguards involving Department of Defense research and post-employment restrictions.
Clarifies that projects removing Communist Chinese port crane hardware and software remain eligible for federal grant funding.
Supports efforts to strengthen domestic critical mineral, semiconductor, microelectronics, and rare earth supply chains.
Supports strengthening America’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific and confronting Chinese military aggression.

KEEPING PACE WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE 21st CENTURY

Supports accelerated modernization of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, autonomous systems, and advanced operational experimentation.
Encourages expanded use of secure communications technologies supporting Special Operations Forces and contested environment operations.
Supports continued modernization of defense software acquisition and emerging technology procurement.
Authorizes the Department of Defense to expand Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) activities to strengthen innovation partnerships and accelerate operational technology transition.
Supports operational experimentation involving advanced autonomous systems, AI-enabled battle management, and secure quantum communications.

STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE

Supports acquisition reform initiatives to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate modernization, and improve efficiency for taxpayers.
Supports continued investments in missile defense modernization and next-generation air and missile defense architecture.
Authorizes robust investments supporting force readiness, operational modernization, and advanced military technologies.
Supports efforts to strengthen America’s defense industrial base and secure critical supply chains.
Advances policies designed to ensure the United States maintains military superiority against adversarial threats.

SIMPSON VOICES OPPOSITION TO 'RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT ACT' - The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY) Website

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

SIMPSON VOICES OPPOSITION TO 'RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT ACT'

The Sun Community News (Elizabethtown, NY)

6/5/26

Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Adirondack) voted down the “Responsible Data Center Development Act” calling it a dangerous expansion of the failed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) agenda that prioritizes wind and solar mandates at the expense of reliable, diverse energy sources and local control.

“This bill is a Trojan horse designed to grow the CLCPA’s attack on every form of energy that isn’t wind and solar,” said Simpson. “While it claims to address concerns about data centers, it actually demands the massive expansion of solar energy projects that will only further jeopardize our green spaces, forests and farmland across the North Country and the Adirondacks. New Yorkers need an honest ‘all of the above’ energy strategy. This effectively limits our energy diversity and shuts out nuclear and natural gas as viable options.”

Simpson said the bill imposes aggressive renewable procurement requirements on large data centers while doing nothing to restore or strengthen community veto power. Instead, when paired with the existing Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act frameworks, it continues the dangerous centralization of decisions in Albany, allowing state bureaucrats to steamroll local voices on siting issues.

“Communities in the North Country don’t want massive data centers, but we also don’t want clear-cut forests, prime farmland covered in solar panels or new transmission lines forced on us without real input,” Simpson continued. “This legislation further limits our ability to decide what happens in our own backyards. It benefits multinational corporations and Albany insiders far more than the hard-working families and stakeholders in our rural communities.”

For instance, a single 125-megawatt data center that sources at least 90% of its electricity from renewable energy systems under this bill by 2040 would require 1,000s of acres of land. Using conservative estimates of 7 acres per megawatt, meeting that requirement with solar alone would demand approximately 875 acres of land just for the panels. When factoring in real-world needs for battery storage, substations, setbacks and transmission lines to deliver reliable 24/7 power, the actual footprint could easily exceed 2,000 acres of cleared forest or converted farmland in the North Country.

FORMER LAWMAKER FRUSTRATED BY FAILURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON REDEVELOPING FORMER PRISONS - Spectrum News 1 (Albany, NY) Website

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

FORMER LAWMAKER FRUSTRATED BY FAILURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON REDEVELOPING FORMER PRISONS

Spectrum News 1 (Albany, NY)

6/4/26

In her executive budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a resolution that would have enabled the redevelopment of three of the six shuttered prisons currently sitting, unused, in the Adirondack forest preserve.

The proposal wasn’t in the enacted budget and it’s not on track to pass before the end of session. It’s not clear why.

But it’s been a priority for North Country lawmakers, including former state Assemblyman Billy Jones, for years. Jones left the Assembly in 2025 and is currently the vice president of strategic initiatives and workforce development at Clinton College in Plattsburgh.

“I applaud the governor for making an effort,” Jones told Capital Tonight.

Hochul’s resolution proposed removing Camp Gabriels Correctional Facility in Franklin County, Moriah Shock in Essex County and Mount McGregor Correctional Facility in Saratoga County from the zoning strictures of the forest preserve in exchange additional land.

According to Jones, who had pushed this amendment for years in the Assembly while he served in the Legislature, municipalities in the Adirondack Park are frustrated.

“I can tell you, knowing these towns and knowing the locations of these [former prisons], I don’t believe that we would ever have an issue with an Amazon Warehouse or a Wal-Mart going in there,” he said, referencing a frequent concern cited by critics. “It’s not an economic practicality.”

But the stage is set for North Country lawmakers to make a push for the amendment, once again, next session.

State Sen. Dan Stec’s spokesman told Capital Tonight this was the sixth consecutive year his constitutional amendment had passed the state Senate.

“So I can’t imagine we won’t go for lucky number seven next year,” he said.

Assemblyman Michael Cashman who represents the seat that Jones vacated is also on board.

“I will remain dogged in working on this issue with my colleagues across the aisle,” he told Capital Tonight.

Former Assemblyman Jones doesn’t believe the issue can be laid to rest until the state acts.

“It’s state property. It’s the state’s responsibility. And the state should be doing something about it instead of these buildings just rotting into the ground,” he said. “How environmentally sustainable is that?”

STEC, BLANKENBUSH CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR'S AND DEMOCRAT'S PLANS TO REDISTRICT - North Country Now (Potsdam, NY) Website

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

STEC, BLANKENBUSH CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR'S AND DEMOCRAT'S PLANS TO REDISTRICT

North Country Now (Potsdam, NY)

6/4/26

St. Lawrence County’s state representatives are calling foul on the governor’s and the Democratic legislative leaders' plan to redistrict, calling it a partisan effort to influence control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Both State Sen. Dan Stec and Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, who both represent the region in Albany, criticized the redistricting legislation advanced by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic officials.

Stec sounds off

“For all their talk about election integrity, Governor Hochul and Democrat Legislative Leaders are more than willing to twist election laws to suit their own political needs,” Stec said in a statement.

“The governor and her allies have openly admitted that the ‘redistricting’ legislation they’re advancing is political gerrymandering intended to swing control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Not only is this a shameful attempt at a partisan power grab, it explicitly violates the will of our voters.”

Stec noted that New York voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2014 creating an independent redistricting commission.

“In 2014, New Yorkers voted to approve a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission to remove political machinations from the redistricting process. Within two years of assuming total control of state government, Democrats showed their contempt for independent redistricting by proposing a new, watered down redistricting amendment that was soundly defeated in a referendum by voters statewide,” he said.

“Despite our voters sending a strong message in favor of independent redistricting multiple times, Democrat leadership remains undeterred in its real goal: political gains at all costs. For all their talk of preserving democracy, this redistricting measure makes it clear that all they really want to do is preserve one-party government in Albany and swing control of Washington D.C.”

Stec said he will oppose the legislation.

“I will be voting against this blatant power-grab because it is against everything our government stands for and everything our voters have explicitly rejected,” he said.

Blankenbush blasts Dems

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush blasted Albany Democrats’ redistricting proposal, calling it a direct attack on fair elections and another attempt by one-party rule to protect itself from the voters.

The proposal would give Albany politicians more control over drawing congressional and state legislative districts, weaken the independent redistricting process and open the door to mid-decade mapmaking. Blankenbush said the move exposes the Majority’s real priority: protecting political power, not protecting voters, Blankenbush said in a press release.

“This is not reform. This is a political burglary in broad daylight,” said Blankenbush. “Albany Democrats are trying to seize the mapmaking process, weaken the guardrails and give themselves the power to choose their voters before voters ever get to choose them.”

Blankenbush said the proposal goes far beyond responding to national redistricting fights and would put New York’s own legislative districts at risk of permanent partisan manipulation. He warned the plan would weaken the voice of rural and upstate communities already ignored by Albany’s one-party leadership.

“The North Country knows what it means to be overlooked by Albany,” said Blankenbush. “Now they want the power to carve up communities, protect incumbents and silence opposition. We will not stand by while they sharpen the knife. At a time when New Yorkers are demanding lower costs, safer communities and honest government, Albany Democrats and the governor are focused on rigging the next election. When politicians choose their voters, the people lose their voice.”

Blankenbush called on the Legislature to reject the proposal immediately.

“This scheme belongs in the garbage,” said Blankenbush. “New York needs fair maps, fair elections and leaders who are willing to face the voters, not hide behind lines drawn in a back room.”

SCHUMER CALLS ON OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE WOMEN’S NORDIC COMBINED COMPETITION IN 2030 WINTER GAMES - Adirondack Almanack (Saranac Lake, NY) Website

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 EST

SCHUMER CALLS ON OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE WOMEN’S NORDIC COMBINED COMPETITION IN 2030 WINTER GAMES

Adirondack Almanack (Saranac Lake, NY)

6/3/26

Sen. Chuck Schumer called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to expand Nordic combined in the winter Olympics by including the women’s competition in the 2030 games. Nordic combined is a winter sport in which athletes compete in cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Schumer explained that young women train in the North Country for a chance to represent Team USA, and allowing women to participate is a matter of fairness and opportunity.

“Every year, women from across the country train at world-class facilities in Upstate New York like Lake Placid’s Olympic Ski Jumping Complex and Mt. Van Hoevenberg for a chance to represent Team USA in Nordic combined. But they are excluded from competing on the Olympic stage because there is no women’s competition,” Sen. Schumer said. “As American women excel at the Women’s World Championship, allowing women to compete is about more than fairness. It’s about recognizing their extraordinary athletic accomplishments. That’s why I’m calling on the IOC to right this wrong and allow women the same opportunities their male counterparts have.”

More women have been participating in Nordic combined, with 10 podium finishes in this year’s Nordic Combined World Cup. Team USA women athletes are already inspiring dozens of junior athletes training and competing in Lake Placid. Nordic combined has been part of the winter Olympics since the first games in 1924, but it is currently the only winter Olympic sport that does not allow women to compete. Schumer said ensuring female athletes have the same opportunity as their male counterparts to compete on the Olympic stage is about fairness and equal opportunity.

Schumer said adding women’s Nordic combined to the winter Olympics would not only expand opportunities for women athletes from Upstate New York and across the country but would also strengthen Lake Placid’s role as a premier destination for winter sports, helping attract more international competitions, tourism and investment to the region.