Ulster County committee agrees to seek lead‑agency status and approves easement for proposed energy storage project in New Paltz

Ulster County’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee voted June 2 to allow the county to seek lead‑agency status under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for a proposed battery energy storage facility on county‑owned land at Paradis Lane in New Paltz and approved an easement for the project.

The action, presented as Resolution 297, authorizes the county to pursue a coordinated, short‑form environmental review and to consider a balance‑of‑public‑interest test that, if used, could affect local zoning review. Director Doyle told the committee the county has discussed the project with the town and is preparing a petition and coordinated review with involved agencies.

“Right now we will do a coordinated review, with all of the involved agencies, and we will use a short form, not a long form with respect to the environmental filings,” Director Doyle said, explaining the procedural steps staff expect to take.

Colin Loveless, senior director of development at KeyCapture Energy, addressed the committee on the company’s experience and safety planning. “We are an Albany‑based battery energy storage developer, owner, and IPP,” Loveless said. He said KeyCapture has already met with New Paltz fire officials and would develop an emergency response plan collaboratively, noting that updated New York fire safety codes require such coordination and that third‑party expert reviews are available during permitting.

Committee members asked whether the town of New Paltz opposed the county acting as lead agency. Director Doyle said the county has presented alternatives to the town and that town officials have been given opportunities to comment; staff believe there is tentative support for using a balance‑of‑public‑interest test but noted the town could challenge a county lead‑agency designation.

The committee separately approved Resolution 298, authorizing the chair to execute an easement with KCE for the project. Staff described the easement as roughly 16 acres with an expected development footprint under 8 acres, placed in the southwest corner of the parcel adjacent to a three‑way off‑ramp; easement work will include a line to the transmission facility that runs up South Ohioville Road into the New Paltz substation.

KeyCapture will present a fuller briefing to the county’s Energy and Environment committee the following day, the chair said. The committee’s votes to move forward on lead‑agency status and to approve the easement were recorded as carried.