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| May 11, 2025 |
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April 25, 2009
To the Editor:
Rather than memorializing the Con Ed fight and theoretically thanking those who fought to stop the project, we should be thanking Con Edison.
The proposed hydro-electric plant project would have utilized our Black Rock reservoirs. Because of this, Con Edison built the current Catskill Aqueduct Filter Plant and the Mountainville well facility that our water system currently utilizes. They also installed several miles of water main and an emergency pumping station for the mountain section of our village along with a storage tank. All of these water system improvements were completed at no cost to the village or its residents. It also enabled our village to provide drinking water to a section of the Town of Cornwall that would have otherwise not have had access to the municipal water system.
Today, because of these improvements the village is seen as a "water rich" community as stated in a recent Orange County Water Authority report and the envy of many surrounding municipalities.
In today’s world, hydro-electricity is seen as a popular alternate form of energy within the green movement. So much so is this form of energy seen as being favorable that our village is currently looking into creating a hydro-electric system utilizing the Black Rock reservoirs and our new filter plant, but on a much smaller scale.
It would seem that maybe the Con Edison project was simply ahead of it's time. Maybe if the project had been completed the need for Indian Point and the Roston power generating plant would have been reduced. I am curious, though, if given a choice between Indian Point, Roston power plant, or the Con Edison Hydro-Electric plant today, which one would the people elect to support.
Whether you fought against the project or supported the project our community has a lot to be thankful for because of it and that includes Donahue Memorial Park. The park was named in memory of Mayor Donahue because of his efforts during the settlement of the court case surrounding the project, which included the riverfront park being given to the village. Once it became painfully obvious to Mayor Donahue that the project was not going to be completed, he was able to set aside his own personal feelings and negotiate an outcome which was in the best interest of the village.
Mayor Donahue's legacy is not just about the Con Edison project, it is about his entire life here in the village and all that he and his family have done over the years, which also includes the family farm being forever open space never to be developed, a decision made Doc Donahue's family. Also, let’s not forget that today's July 4th celebration got its start at the Donahue family farm on Bayview Avenue. Many of us old-time residents have fond memories of celebrating the 4th of July with Doc and his family.
In closing, I say if the Donahue family wishes that the Con Edison rock be moved to the turn around at the base of Storm King Mountain, then so it should be, since they have never asked for anything else in return for their family’s devotion to our village.
Sincerely,
Mike Trainor
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Comments:
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Careful Mike .....Your going to start "clouding this issue with Common Sense"....we certainly can't have that.
Jerry Kiernan
posted by Jerry Kiernan on 04/27/09 at 2:22 PM |
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Hmm. First, the project was not going to 'use' our reservoirs. The entire area containing the reservoirs was to be flooded - thus eliminating the reservoirs for use as anything but a staging area for Hudson River water during the night and then emptying during the day. (Cheaper power at night to pump the water up - more expensive power to be generated during the day. The water system improvements were made because Con Ed felt they could win the right to flood a huge area of Black Rock forest. Con Ed never did anything for the nice of it. It was done because construction costs were lower to do it then than waiting to see if the lawsuit against them failed.
I'm not sure the project was ahead of its time. I have not heard of any other project as this (pumping up with cheap power at night and draining for more expensive power during the day) anywhere in the world.
By the way, also remembered the 4th of July celelbration at the farm. If I remember clearly - the celebration was moved because of the cost that the 4th Committee could not afford to clean up the farm afterward. As a member of the Clark family who were among the first in Cornwall-on-Hudson - the Common Sense is somewhat questionable, Jerry and Mike - remember all the jobs that were going to be created when Cornwall-on-Hudson would forever lose our reservoirs (which seem to be pretty neat to have right about now...which you pointed out.)
posted by james bell on 04/27/09 at 3:29 PM |
| This posting by "Cathy" has been removed by the editor. |
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Cathy,
You speak as if you know me. Seeing as how I do not know anyone by your last name I will assume that you have posted under a fake name. If that is the case then why should I or anyone else put any trust in anything you say. Stand up and be heard by your rightful name. I can respect the opinion of those who post on this website and use their rightful name. Even Kate. But not those who don't. So stand up and be heard but not if your unwilling to use your real name.
posted by Mike Trainor on 04/27/09 at 9:59 PM |
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Madame Editor:
I am curious - was the "Cathy" comment removed as anonymous because Mike said he did not know her or was there another determining factor in the anonymous issue? I know that you are very busy so take your time if you feel a need to respond...good lord, it must be like herding cats to supervise this web site!
posted by Kate Benson on 04/29/09 at 9:53 PM
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