Friday April 19, 2024 
North Greenbush needs more electric vehicle chargers
The Colonial Pipeline was hacked and shutdown in early May. The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline that delivers 45% of gasoline to the east coast of the US is a reminder that infrastructure is a constant need. Electric vehicles (EV) are becoming more common and more popular. Next week, Ford will release an electric version of the F-150, one of the best selling vehicles in the US for the last 40 years. More EVs are coming and we need to get our infrastructure ready for the new technology. Per the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (https://afdc.energy.gov/), virtually all of the Capital Region EV charging ports are on the west side of the Hudson. East of the Hudson, most are in Troy. North Greenbush only has two EV charging ports. NYSERDA, National Grid, and NYSEG all are offering good programs to help subsidize the the installation of EV charging ports. But those programs will not last forever. As the technology becomes more common, those incentives will reduce in size and availability. The Town of Sand Lake has a charging station at their town hall. North Greenbush should have a charging station at the town hall and other places. Imagine attending Food Truck Night or watching a game in the field and charging your EV at the same time. I call upon the North Greenbush to embrace the future and take advantage of the incentives that exist now to install EV charging ports in town. Failure to act now is a missed opportunity of the available incentives. With infrastructure, the costs are always greater in the future. Let’s plan for the next 30 years now. Today, we are closer to 2050 than 1990.
Michael Myer, North Greenbush
Follow the Master Plan
We live on Barnes Road which is zoned residential and agricultural. We are residents who enjoy agricultural without all the chores. We have lived here for that very reason. The town has a master plan for zoning. That plan took time , thought and money to develop. It serves the welfare and protects the interests of all town residents. It logically follows that its guidelines have been put in place for good reason. Our road is not designed to be commercial. If we wanted a party venue, food or entertainment across the street, we would live somewhere else. I believe our court system also has been designed to protect us and our interests as well. The Supreme Court has CLEARLY for GOOD REASON in this case decided in our favor to stop an event barn from being built on our street. Why is the Town Board approving additional taxpaye rmoney to appeal this decision?
Pat Sikora, West Sand Lake