TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. – Die-hard environmentalists and local Democrats strongly criticized two state lawmakers who said they found no safety risks from a proposed 250-megawatt lithium-ion battery facility at the site of the former Coleman High School, which is adjacent to populated areas.

Officials and residents criticized state Sen. Michelle Hinchey and state Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha on Thursday and Friday about their answers to risk concerns raised by residents.

“Support of (Terra-Gen) is surprising and very new and not thoughtful and they probably have the political pressure put upon (them),” said former Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency board Chairman Regis Obijiski.

“I was actually floored by that… they would want to, in a sense, by their premature support of this, get

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