Town of Ulster begins 45‑day review of AltaZar energy storage draft EIS

Supervisor Quigley informed the board that 12–14 boxes containing the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the AltaZar energy storage project were delivered to the town and that the town has 45 days under SEQRA (Seeker) to review the materials for completeness. He said the draft will be made available for public comment and that the planning board and La Bella Associates will assist with reviews and preparation of the final environmental impact statement and findings.

During public comment, Regis Obadjewski urged the town to consider newer battery chemistries such as iron‑air and cautioned about long‑term fire, air and disposal risks tied to large‑scale containerized lithium‑ion installations. The board noted the timeline for document review and scheduled public hearings on the DEIS as part of the iterative SEQRA process.