30 years later trash plant still here
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, October 25, 2021
By Ken Tingley
You know you are getting old when you remember the controversy surrounding the Hudson Falls trash plant. The trash plant is 31 years old and nearing the end of its life - hopefully.
Most of those who remember the 1980s controversy over its construction are now either retired or close to retiring. The trash plant was forced on the region when the state insisted it was closing all landfills. It also promised local communities they would get a cut of any energy revenues it produced to ensure taxpayers would not have to pay. Neither happened.
The trash plant turned out to be a financial boondoggle.
Landfills remain open around the state even today and local communities were not given a cut of the energy profits.
The incinerator, which was designed to have a 30-year life, is among the top air polluters in Warren and Washington counties and is still operating. It receives trash from all around the state.
A dozen or so local people turned out at the Sandy Hill Arts Center in Hudson Falls last week to talk about what could be done to get the burn plant closed.
The event was sponsored by the Clean Air Action Network of Glens Falls and the Southern Adirondack Democratic Socialists of America. A panel of three experts appeared via Zoom to discus the issue.
The admissions from the plant are worse than burning coal.
The information was informative but not surprising, but since some in the room had not even been born when the trash plant was built, it may have been shocking.
The real discussion began after the experts had turned off their computers. The local people in the room were concerned about what they were breathing in the air and the affect it has on their children and future children in the community. There was also concern over the contribution to climate change and global warming.
The passion was clear.
“The people of Hudson Falls have to make it their issue,” said one person. “We can’t keep passing it on.”
How could they get the trash plant to close” they asked.
One man said he had been walking around town and asking people about the trash plant and was shocked to learn many Hudson Falls residents didn’t know it existed.
You could feel the anger and concern building around the room.
That’s when Bill Nikas was asked what he thought.
Nikas, the owner of the Sandy Hill Arts Center, said he was only there to address any concerns with the facility during the meeting. But he stayed and listened. After all, he had a front row seat as a Washington County supervisor in the 1980s who later became embroiled in the controversy.
He then provided a history lesson on the trash plant.
He explained how the state pressured local counties to support the building of the incinerator; that it threatened the county with $5,000 a day fines if they did not close their landfill.
Nikas talked about the pressure on county supervisors to approve the trash plant. State officials insisted that all landfills would be shut down.
State officials convinced the supervisors they would make money off the plant.
None of it happened.
Nikas told those assembled that they would have to fight the state and corporations to get the trash plant closed.
“When you fight the government, you will get the same response,” Nikas said.
He had thrown a bucket of cold water on the proceedings. But the history lesson was needed. I left the meeting shortly after. Most had been there close to three hours.
Driving out of town, I drove past the towering incinerator along the Hudson River. I couldn’t help but wonder what the true toll was on the health of local residents and how that would most likely continue.
It is a piece of history that should be taught in all local schools.
Perhaps, Bill Nikas has some time.
Book events
November is shaping up as a busy month for me as I promote my book “The Last American Editor.”
I will be doing a book signing at Northshire Books in Saratoga Springs from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 6.
I will be speaking at several other events as well as signing books.
Here are some other events:
Thursday, Nov. 4 - Moreau Community Center, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 9 - Glens Falls Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, Senior Center of Kingsbury and Fort Edward, 11 a.m.
Thursday, of. 18, Stony Creek Free Library, 6 p.m.
Tweet of the Day
You forgot to mention that it was Nikus who spearheaded the push to bring what is now the worst polluter of all 81 existing incinerators in the US. Remember Ken?? The federal racketeering charges? He & Barber??