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Port: Wind-power project will spur growth
By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
COEYMANS — The economic impact of a major wind-power project at the Port of Coeymans was the focus of the January meeting of a local business group.
The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Community Business Association hosted a forum with officials from Carver Companies, which owns the port, and a representative from NYSERDA, New York State Energy Research and Development, to discuss how the project will affect the area.
The offshore-wind project, announced by state officials including Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin at a press event at the port in October, is the largest offshore wind supply chain contract award in the state’s history at $86 million.
Orsted Offshore North America and Eversource Energy, which will be tenants at the Port of Coeymans, signed the contract in the fall with Riggs Distler & Company to build advanced foundation components for wind turbines at the port.
The project is expected to create hundreds of manufacturing and construction jobs locally and at a second site in Western New York, Peter Lion from NYSERDA said following the presentation.
“Through the contract that was discussed today with Riggs Distler and the group out of Wellsville, there are 230 jobs between the Port of Coeymans and the facility in Wellsville, which is a New York-based company,” Lion said.
Locally, about 115 jobs will be created in Coeymans in the skilled trades including electricians, carpenters, concrete masons, operating engineers, ironworkers and laborers at the port, Benjamin said in October.
The project will also help in meeting the state’s energy goals identified in legislation enacted in 2019 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy usage and put the state on a path toward carbon neutrality, according to the governor’s website.
“This project will help us reach our Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals — decarbonization, implementation of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind — but it’s also bringing in jobs and investment,” Lion said.
Eversource and Orsted will handle the secondary steel that will support the offshore wind turbine’s foundations and work with the subcontractor Riggs Distler, who will do the actual assembly of the wind-power components, said Steve Kelly, president of sales and business development for Carver Companies.
“Once they do the secondary steel, it will be stored here, then loaded onto a barge and shipped out to the offshore wind project, where they will actually assemble it on the monopile,” Kelly explained.
Monopiles are steel tubes that are driven into the seabed and support the secondary steel elements — the platforms, ladders and boat landings that are needed to access and operate the wind turbines.
Work at the port is expected to begin later this year, Kelly said.
“Once the permits and so forth are in and construction and the area are ready, we will probably start potentially in fourth quarter of 2022,” Kelly said. “And then the actual assembly of the components will probably be in the first or second quarter of 2023.”
Attracting such a large project to Coeymans will be good for the area, said Bob LaCosta, RCS Community Business Association board member.
“This is about two things — momentum and perception,” LaCosta said. “The perception of RCS as a business community and school district has never been on par with some of our neighboring towns. Perception — it doesn’t mean that the people aren’t good or that the businesses aren’t solid.”
Building momentum and economic growth is another key, he said.
“The second thing is momentum,” LaCosta said. “The momentum of bringing outside interests, both government and business, is intriguing because we are at the center of something that is still developing and that other people don’t know about. As they start to recognize that, the momentum is going to pick up more.”
The next meeting of the RCS Community Business Association will be Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. at Rail to River, 109 Main St., Ravena. The topic will be “Combatting Blighted Zombie Properties.” Cost for the meeting is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Pizza is included and local brews will be available for purchase.
Events: RCS Community Library
- Destash Your Crafts!
Thursday, Sept. 19 to Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Have too much yarn, fabric or other craft supplies collecting dust and taking up space? Give your unused supplies a new home with the library’s Second Annual Destash/Restash craft re-homing event. Drop off your gently used or new craft supplies to share with fellow crafters. Help keep usable items out of the landfill and promote creativity at the same time. The library will be accepting donations from Sept. 16 to Oct. 11. The Restash/Rehome event will be on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Any items that don’t find a home at the October event will be donated to Up-Stitch in Albany. For adults and teens.
- Family Storytime
Thursday, Sept. 19, from 10-11 a.m.
Family Storytime is a fun, participatory storytime for the whole family that includes songs, fingerplays, stories and movement activities. Early literacy activities are emphasized. No registration is required.
- Lunchtime Books: ‘Swamplandia!’
Thursday, Sept. 19, from 12-1 p.m.
The novel is “Swamplandia!” by Karen Russell. Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos — her father withdraws, her sister falls in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, defects to a rival park called The World of Darkness. Books are available at the library and new members are always welcome. No registration is required. For adults.
- Craft: Little Boos
Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m.
Resident needle felting expert Donna Hamilton will demonstrate how to make some adorable, autumnal felted pumpkins. Whether you’re a beginner, or have some needle felting experience, come spend some time with fellow crafters. Registration is required at rcscommunitylibrary.org. For adults and teens ages 16 and up.
- Romp and Read
Friday, Sept. 20, from 10-11 a.m.
Romp and Read will help get the wiggles out on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. with interactive themes, stories, and action songs with props. No need to register.
- Chair Yoga for Seniors
Friday, Sept. 20, from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
This gentle yoga class, taught by local instructor Kelley Curran or Well & Kell, is for folks ages 50 and up. No experience or equipment is required. Join in at Senior Projects of Ravena for this series of yoga classes. There is no fee for this class. Registration is required at rcscommunitylibrary.org. Please provide an email address or phone number so the library can notify you in the event of any change to the schedule.
- Romp and Read
Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 10-11 a.m.
Romp and Read will help get the wiggles out on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. with interactive themes, stories and action songs with props. No need to register.
- Last Tuesday Book Group: ‘Anna O’
Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The novel is “Anna O” by Matthew Blake. What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all? Anna Ogilvy was a budding 25-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive — and she hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic disorder known to neurologists as “resignation syndrome.” Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of solving the infamous “Anna O” case and waking Anna up so she can stand trial. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect — he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own. As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes. Only Anna knows the truth about that night but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out. Books are available at the library and new members are always welcome. No registration is required. For adults.
- Write Together at the Library
Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Are you a beginning writer, or maybe working on the Great American Novel? Maybe you’re the short-story type? Prose fiction writers of all types and levels are invited to bring your notebooks, laptops or other writing implements and join in for an evening of writing together. The library will offer writing prompts, sprints, and quiet time for you to get ahead on your writing project, no matter where you are in the process. Registration is required at rcscommunitylibary.org. For adults.
- Senior Cinema: ‘Galaxy Quest’
Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 2-4 p.m.
Celebrating the 25-year anniversary of this classic sci-fi comedy starring Tim Allen, Alan Rickmand and Sigourney Weaver as the stars of a 1970s sci-fi show who are now scraping a living through re-runs and sci-fi conventions. These actors are beamed aboard an alien spacecraft by a band of aliens who mistakenly believe that the Galaxy Quest episodes they viewed are “historical documents” of real-life space adventures and are relying on these out-of-work actors to save them from disaster. Rated PG. For adults.
- Even More Drawing: Keeping It Simple and Fun
Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Art does not have to be serious or of museum quality. In these sessions, you will draw from images chosen to be inspiring, exciting and amusing. Drawing, if you haven’t done it before, is a very learnable skill and a very relaxing pastime. It takes your brain in new directions and is a great way to begin other two-dimensional art styles like painting. Both “wet” and “dry” techniques of drawing will be introduced in this series of classes. All skill levels are welcome. Individual instruction and supplies will be provided. Local artist and instructor Thomas Baldovin will return to the library to offer these classes. There is no fee for this class. Registration is required at rcscommunitylibrary.org. For adults and teens ages 16 and up.
NEW FICTION
“On the Hunt” by Iris Johansen
“Entitlement” by Rumaan Alam
“The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife” by Anna Johnson
“The Women Behind the Door” by Roddy Doyle
“One on One” by Jamie Harrow
