Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Noah Skinner picks up good yardage during the Mustangs season opening win over Bishop Timon this evening at Vets Park.

A lightning quick touchdown on the opening kickoff ignited Medina to a 54-6 victory over Bishop Timon-St. Jude in a season opening non league football game at Vets Park this evening.

Robert Arnold returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a TD and the Mustangs were off and rolling.

Medina tacked on three more touchdowns before the opening quarter ended on a pair of scoring passes from Xander Payne to Jarin Rhim covering 20 and 40 yards and on an 8 yard run by Rhim.

The Mustangs tacked on two point conversions after each of those scores,  two on runs by Iverson Poole and two on passes by Payne to Noah Skinner, to open up a commanding 32-0 lead.

The Mustangs other touchdowns came on an 18 yard run by Arnold in the third quarter and on runs of 22 yards by Poole and 3 yards by Skinner in the fourth quarter. Arnold and Cayden Lilleby added the two-point conversion runs after the fourth quarter TDs.

Medina next visits Newfane in the C North Division opener next Saturday at 2 p.m.

Medina’s Dominic Larabee (7) and Rashawn Bloom (24) break in to block a Bishop Timon punt attempt.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Sh’Kwe Riley breaks loose for a big gain during the Purple Eagles win over visiting Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville this evening. At right, Amari Jones breaks up a pass attempt for the Purple Eagles.

Exploding out to a 32-0 first quarter lead, Albion went on to defeat visiting Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville 54-2 this evening in the B North Division season opener.

The Purple Eagles infact scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes on a 17 yard pass from Amari Jones to Javon Jones followed by TD runs of 55 and 32 yards by Sh’Kwe Riley.

Amari Jones, Sh’Kwe Riley and Jahmeek Riley each had two-point conversion runs after those scores.

A 40 yard touchdown run by Jacob Hughson  and a two-point conversion run by Amari Jones capped off the huge opening quarter.

The Purple Eagles tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter on a pair of 19 yard runs by Jahmeek Riley and Amari Jones, and one in the third quarter on a 23 yard pass from Amari Jones to Javon Jones.

Amari Jones also had two two-point conversions and Javon Jones one after those tallies.

Albion next visits Maryvale for a B North contest at 7 p.m. next Friday.

Drew Sandolfini, at left, picks up yardage for Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville. At right, Thomas Roote makes a catch for the Silverbacks against Purple Eagles defender Jr. Morales.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley 

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is saddened to announce that his annual Patriot Trip  in which he brings veterans to landmarks and historical sites throughout the Washington, D.C. area will be canceled this year due to concerns regarding the spread of Covid-19, especially as new variant cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals continue to increase.

All participants who have signed up for the trip scheduled for Sept. 16-19 will be fully refunded for anything paid toward it.

“Having to cancel a trip that means so much to veterans, their families, and me was an incredibly difficult decision, but ultimately the well-being of veterans and their families has to be our top priority,” Hawley said. “Amidst the spread of Covid-19, it is also very difficult to know for certain that planned destinations will be reasonably accessible. Ultimately, however, the thought of even a single veteran or one of their loved ones falling seriously ill is what caused me to have to make this difficult decision, because their well-being is more important than any event.”

Press Release, RESTORE

RESTORE Sexual Assault Services, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, is recruiting volunteer advocates for an upcoming training cycle in November 2021. There is an urgent need for volunteer advocates in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Volunteer advocates are responsible for taking crisis phone calls from their home and providing information and advocacy to sexual assault survivors at a hospital or police station. Volunteers offer support, information and resources to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones. The time commitment is flexible, and at the volunteer’s discretion. All applicants will be screened and must complete 32 hours of training prior to beginning their volunteer commitment.

The training is planned to take place in person, in Monroe County. However, all RESTORE services are dynamically responding to the changing Covid-19 protocols and using a variety of communication methods, depending on the needs and comfort level of the volunteer advocate (and survivors).

Those interested in volunteering for RESTORE must be at least 20 years old, have reliable transportation, and be comfortable working with those in a crisis situation.

For further information about volunteering with RESTORE, email restore@ppcwny.org.

New housing construction has slowed in county in past 15 years

Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Holley High School opened last year with 42 apartments, which were quickly filled. A report about housing in Orleans County said more townhouses, smaller single-family homes needed in the county.

ALBION – A report about housing in Orleans County advises local officials to consider some zoning changes to allow for single-family housing on smaller lot sizes, and also encourage more high-density development, such as townhouses and condominiums.

The report, presented to the Orleans County Legislature last week by LaBella, said the county has an aging housing stock and about half of the houses need repairs.

The median household income in the county also makes it difficult for landlords to charge enough rent, making for a low return on investment.

Building permits for housing are about a third of what they were 15 years ago. The redevelopment of the former Holley High School, which added 42 apartment units last year, is an exception. Those units were quickly rented out and show there is demand for high-density living in the county.

The county paid LaBella $5,000 for the study. County Legislator Ken DeRoller of Kendall advocated for the study after seeing local building permits plummet in recent years and the population steadily decline. DeRoller said that may be a reflection that the existing housing and zoning are not in sync with housing development.

He is suggesting local officials look to set aside some land for housing that may currently be farmland. That is a discussion that should be taken up among farmers, the county’s Farmland Protection Board and local officials. If the zoning was changed to allow smaller lots, DeRoller said there would be affordable new housing opportunities with only a small impact to productive farmland.

There are also opportunities for new construction with vacant lots in villages. DeRoller also sees the Erie Canal as an attractive waterfront option with the right zoning in place.

Key findings in the report include:

• Single-family, owner-occupied units dominate the market: About 50 percent of housing stock throughout the county is comprised of single-family homes on large lots. Future projections show a need for smaller homes on smaller lot sizes, which would also drive down the costs for a new house.

• Almost 50 percent of renter households have housing problems and cannot afford market rents: The report states that 49 percent of renters are living in units that are not affordable. Housing Choice vouchers available in the county address some of the affordability issues, but only a small fraction of the need. The report also says 51 percent  of renters have housing problems such as incomplete kitchens or bathrooms and more than one person per bedroom.

• More than 50 percent of housing stock is 60 years or older: Housing maintenance is therefore a major priority in the county, Labella stated in the report.

• Renters and homeowners both have housing problems: The number of homeowners with housing problems (3,010, according to the report) exceeds the number of renters (2,010) with housing problems.

• Return on investment is low for owners and rental developers: Rental rates in inflation adjusted dollars have decreased over the last 20 years, and home values, in inflation adjusted dollars, are also down in the 20 years. (This doesn’t include the recent spike in the past year with many homes selling for 20 to 25 percent above assessed value.) The lack of growth in rental rates and home values discourages upgrades and maintenance of homes, as well as new developments.

• Population decreasing: Orleans County’s population is down 5.9 percent from 2010 to 2020 or by 2,540 people, from 42,883 to 40,343. From 2000, the decline is 8.7 percent when the population was 44,171. “Finding ways to attract new residents would increase the demand for housing,” the report states.

• Population getting older: The average age of residents in Orleans County increased from 36.2 in 2000 to 43.0 in 2019.

• Shrinking household sizes: The size of the average household shrunk from 2.65 in 2000 to 2.28 in 2019.

• The report also finds a need for more housing units for extremely low-income households, and there is also demand for higher-priced apartments.

DePaul is close to completing a new 40-unit housing project in Albion on Liberty Street. The property is known as the Boxcar Apartments is located between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street. The complex will have 36 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units.

Housing Characteristics

• The report finds that the large majority of housing units are currently owner occupied, with 76 percent owner occupied compared to 24 percent that are renter-occupied.
• Of the occupied housing units in the county, 75 percent are single-family homes, with 11 percent mobile homes, 9 percent that are multi-unit and 5 percent that are two-family.
• New construction of housing units has generally been trending downward. There were 70 building permits for housing in 2004 and that dropped to 24 in 2017 and 23 in 2018 in Orleans County. There was an anomaly in 2019 with 65 permits for housing units, with 42 at the Holley gardens, the former Holley High School that was turned into apartments. Without the school project, there were 23 building permits for housing units in the county in 2019.
• Age of housing stock in Orleans County: The reports shows 57 percent of housing units in the county were built before 1960 and only 6 percent were constructed in last two decades. A breakdown shows 44 percent built from 1939 or earlier, 13 percent from 1940 to 1959; 20 percent from 1960 to 1979; 18 percent from 1980 to 1999; and 6 percent were built in 2000 or later. The report says any housing programs in the county “must” include a component to rehab older homes. Some of those older housing units may need to be demolished.
• Median housing values: Using inflation adjusted values, median housing values in the county have slightly decreased from $105,874 in 2000, $100,366 in 2010 to $98,400 in 2019.
• Median gross rent has also fallen. Using inflation adjusted values, the gross rent for Orleans County rentals has dropped from $774 in 2000 to $732 in 2010 to $728 in 2019.
• Affordability: The report says nearly half of renters, 47 percent, are living in housing that is unaffordable and over 18 percent of renters are spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Three out of four homeowners are living in housing that is affordable. Some subsidies are needed to help lower-income people have affordable housing.
• Housing problems: Overall, 31 percent of households report a housing problem, which could include basic needs like a complete kitchen and bathroom facilities. The report said programs for housing rehab are needed but some of the houses are so unsafe and dilapidated it doesn’t make sense to rehab them and they should be torn down.

Demographic Characteristics 

• Population loss: Orleans County’s population is down 8.7 percent from 2000 to 2020, according to the report which cited census data. That is a decline of 3,828 people over 20 years. The population in Orleans was 40,343 in 2020, down from 42,883 in 2010 and 44,171 in 2000.
• The decline on household sizes could result in less demand for the larger single-family houses in the future, according to the report.
• Medina age: The county’s median age has changed significantly from 36.2 in 2000 to 43.0 in 2019, likely due to stagnant population growth, lack of young families and people moving out of county. During that same period, the median age in the state went from 36 to 39 years old, and nationally it went up from 35 to 38.5. Based on current trends and projections, nearly 60 percent of the Orleans County population will be 45 or older by 2040.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed legislation (S.50001/A.40001) extending virtual access to public meetings under New York State’s Open Meetings Law, which allows New Yorkers to virtually participate in local government meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The legislation, which was initially implemented by Executive Order during last year’s State of Emergency, allows state and local government meetings that are normally held in person to be held remotely instead, as long as the public has the ability to view or listen to the meeting and as long as the meeting is recorded and later transcribed. This statutory change will reduce the need for congregation at public meetings while the Delta variant is prevalent, while ensuring public business can continue.

“Let’s be clear—the Covid-19 pandemic is not over, and I’ve heard from government officials across the state who are concerned about the inability of their constituents to access public meetings virtually,” Governor Hochul said. “This commonsense legislation extends a privilege that not only helps New Yorkers participate safely in the political process, but also increases New Yorkers’ access to their government by allowing for more options to view public meetings. This law will continue to bolster the open and transparent style of government that we’re committed to maintaining in the Empire State.”

Meetings can be held either over a video service such as Zoom or by phone. There is no change to the requirement that Public Bodies must provide notice to constituents that a meeting is taking place, and they are required to inform constituents how to access the public meeting virtually.

On March 12, 2020, Executive Order 202.1 suspended the portion of New York State law requiring meetings to take place in person, and authorized public meetings to be held virtually. On June 25, 2021, the State Disaster Emergency ended, removing the provision suspending the law.

New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Peter A. Baynes said, “During the pandemic’s first fifteen months, Executive Order 202.1 allowed public bodies to conduct meetings remotely. This experiment proved to be effective and popular from both a public health and governmental administration perspective. By all accounts, public attendance at local government meetings increased while health risks were minimized.  Consequently, giving local governments the authority to once again conduct meetings remotely will allow government business to continue while keeping their constituents healthy and safe. This is especially important in light of the emergence of the Delta variant and the recent increase in Covid cases across the state.  Importantly, the Governor’s program bill makes no changes to the law regarding the right to public participation, which allows for a local governing body to establish its own policy.”

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Members of Medina Knights of Columbus posed behind a kneeling soldier and cross to present a check for $2,500 to Pete Zeliff at the Warrior House on Salt Works Road. From left are Howie Gardner from the Knights, Zeliff and Dave Bellucci with the Knights.

MEDINA – The Warrior House on Salt Works Road has been designated by the Knights of Columbus as the recipient of a check for $2,500, representing the proceeds of their recent golf tournament.

The Knights have been having a golf tournament for 25 years, said Dave Bellucci, who was on the golf committee with Jim Mirand, Archie Washak and his wife Amy, Howie Gardner, Bob Fox, Karen Carlton, Kevin Bogan, and Mike and Martha Krupa.

Mirand said the committee wishes to thank all the volunteers who helped on the golf course, as well as those in the kitchen assisting with the banquet. He said thanks also go out to all the golfers, members and guests who generously supported the tournament and basket raffle.

The golf tournament was started to benefit a scholarship in memory of the late Larry Schrader, but recently the Knights decided to support the Warrior House and its programs for veterans.

Skip Draper, a member of the Knights, said they used to earn money by having fish fries, but had to discontinue them when Covid hit.

He also said it had been suggested they sponsor a veteran on Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s trip to Washington, D.C., but that would only help one person, where a donation to the Warrior House would benefit multiple veterans.

The Warrior House is also going to benefit from a promotion at Arby’s Roast Beef in Batavia. During the month of October, Arby’s owner Bill Meland has agreed to donate 10 percent of his proceeds to the Warrior House.

Pete Zeliff, who lived on Johnson Road in Middleport, donated the land and house for the Warrior House about 12 years ago to use as a retreat and hunting preserve for veterans. Since then, beds have been built in the home, where up to nine veterans can be accommodated for goose hunts and deer hunts annually.

“This donation will help support our programs going forward,” Zeliff said of the Knights’ check.

The Warrior House and hunting preserve are located on 100 acres of land, which Zeliff has dedicated to providing recreation for veterans. Zeliff’s mother Kathy Zeliff volunteers to cook meals for the veterans when they are at the Warrior House for a weekend hunt.

Zeliff and his wife also recently purchased the former Yellow Goose in Oakfield, which they have turned into the Oakfield Food Pantry. More and more veterans are taking advantage of that, Zeliff said.

There are 60 new Covid cases in Orleans County and 33 more in Genesee County since Monday, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

The number of active cases in the two counties is at 166 today, up from 141 on Monday, 149 on Aug. 26 and 102 on Aug. 23. Since Monday, the active cases in Orleans are up from 64 to 96, while in Genesee they are down from 77 to 70.

The 60 new cases in Orleans include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are currently four from Orleans who are hospitalized due to Covid, up from two on Monday.

Orleans also has 28 more of the previously positive individuals complete their 10-day isolation and they have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee’s 33 new positive cases of Covid include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee currently has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid, down from 15 on Monday, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee is reporting 38 of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Public Works today removed many of the large concrete sections of sidewalk leading to the County Courthouse on East State Street. There are more to be taken out.

The county DPW will be putting in new sidewalks, with the main walkway reduced to be a much slimmer 12 feet wide.

It’s part of several improvements at the site, where the building was constructed in 1858 and is the focal point of Courthouse Square, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The county also replaced the roof hatch and sealed the cupola. The sealed cupola should stop water from leaking inside. The hatch, which is used for workers to access the cupola and top of the dome, had deteriorated.

The sidewalks and concrete steps near the street also were in disrepair.

The County Legislature set aside $50,000 to replace sidewalks, upgrade landscaping, and relocate existing light fixtures at the Courthouse Square.

State has $1.2 billion available in Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul 

Early this morning, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a new moratorium on Covid-related residential and commercial evictions for New York State which is in effect until January 15, 2022.

Gov. Kathy Hochul

Under the new law, all protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will remain in place, along with new protections on commercial evictions.

“The pandemic has created unimaginable anxiety for families and business owners who have lost income and are struggling to pay the rent every month,” Governor Hochul said. “To help remedy the Supreme Court’s heartless decisions striking down the New York and the Biden administration’s moratoriums on evictions, we are enacting a new moratorium on residential and commercial evictions and extending the protections of New York’s Safe Harbor Act to January 15. These steps will alleviate the crisis facing vulnerable New Yorkers who are suffering through no fault of their own.”

Governor Hochul urges New Yorkers who are struggling to pay their rent to apply for assistance through the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP. Applicants to this program are automatically protected from eviction while their application is pending and will receive a year of eviction protections if they qualify for assistance. The application is available by clicking here.

As of August 31, more than $1.2 billion in funding has either been obligated or distributed through ERAP, including more than $300 million in direct payments to more than 23,000 landlords.

The new law will permit anyone who resides in a locality that opted out of the state’s program to administer their own rental assistance program, to apply to the state program when local funds are exhausted. People applying directly to their local programs will now also automatically benefit from the state’s more expansive eviction protections.

The law also creates a $25 million fund to provide legal services to tenants facing eviction proceedings and to help them maintain housing stability in areas of the state where access to free legal assistance for such services is not available.

The law establishes a new $250 million Supplemental Emergency Rental Assistance program to serve additional households and to better support landlords. Through this program, $125 million will be made available to provide assistance to households with income that exceeds 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), and up to 120% of AMI. Additionally, $125 million will be made available for assistance to landlords whose tenants refuse to participate or have vacated the residence with arrears.

Under New York’s enacted moratorium, tenants must submit a hardship declaration, or a document explaining the source of the hardship, to prevent an eviction proceeding from moving forward. Landlords who believe that their tenant has not suffered a financial hardship will now be permitted to request a hearing in court.

Landlords can also evict tenants that are creating safety or health hazards for other tenants, intentionally damaging property, and where a tenant did not submit a hardship declaration.

The legislation places a moratorium on residential foreclosure proceedings so that homeowners and small landlords who own 10 or fewer residential dwellings can file hardship declarations with their mortgage lender, other foreclosing party, or a court that would prevent a foreclosure.

The legislation’s moratorium on commercial evictions and commercial foreclosure proceedings apply to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees that demonstrate a financial hardship. Tenants must submit a hardship declaration, or a document explaining the source of the hardship, to prevent evictions.

Department will purchase thermal imaging cameras and combination spreader/cutter rescue tool

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department has been approved for a $37,150 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The department plans to use the money to purchase three thermal imaging cameras and one combination spreader/cutter rescue tool.

The funding was announced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and was among $11,499,044 in federal funding for fire departments across New York State.

The funding will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies to emergency personnel across more than 90 fire departments. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).

“From the peak of the pandemic to now, our brave firefighters have always been on the front lines, risking their lives to protect their communities,” Schumer said in a news release. “These courageous first responders deserve all the federal support possible to help them do their jobs. I will always fight to bring more federal resources to support our heroic firefighters, and I’m proud to deliver this funding so New York’s fire departments have essential support they need as they keep New Yorkers safe in emergencies.”

“New York’s firefighters have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid pandemic to protect our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will provide them with the equipment, training, and resources they need to stay safe as they respond to emergency situations. I will continue fighting to ensure that New York’s fire departments have what they need when they enter the line of duty.”

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – New school year, new library hours! Hoag Library is extending hours to accommodate the needs of Albion Central School and GCC students.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Library will offer the following hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students can reserve meeting rooms for study space during and outside of building hours. Visit www.hoaglibrary.org for reservation forms.

Computers and laptops with internet access are available for up to 90 minutes per day, and free Wi-Fi is available to use with your own device.

The library requests the use of masks by staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status. Children under two years old are exempt from this requirement.

Hoag Library looks forward to welcoming back students!

With Orleans County seeing an increase in Covid cases, and the community considered a red zone by the CDC for highest Covid community transmission, Orleans Community Health will be limiting visitors to Medina Memorial Hospital.

The updated guidelines include visiting hours on the Medical-Surgical floor/Transitional Care will be from 1 to 2 p.m. daily and 7 to 8 p.m. Those hours were from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There also won’t be visitors allowed into the Emergency Department. (Exceptions may be made in end-of-life situations.)

Visitors must abide by the following guidelines:

• All visitors will be required to undergo the Covid-19 screening upon entering the hospital.
• Visitors must wear face coverings at all times (covering mouth and nose), regardless of the visitor or patient vaccination status for influenza or Covid-19.
• Visitors who fail to wear a face covering and other PPE as requested by the facility will be asked to leave the facility.
• Visitors must be 16 years of age or older.
• Once in the facility, visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit, except when directed to leave by hospital staff during aerosol-generating procedures or other procedures or circumstances for which visitors are usually asked to leave or to use the restroom, and must be appropriately distanced from any other patients or staff.

Department Visitation Guidelines:

• General Visiting on the Medical-Surgical floor/Transitional Care: One visitor may be permitted between the hours of 1 to 2 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m., except in certain circumstances. On a case-by-case basis, limitations may need to be made due to the clinical condition of the patient or at a patient’s request. In addition, caregiving by family members is encouraged, at the discretion of the family and patient.
• Emergency Department: No Visitors may be permitted, except when necessary to carry out the patient’s treatment. Emergency Department staff will keep visitors informed of the patient’s condition.
• Surgery: One visitor may be permitted and will be provided with a waiting area on the third floor.
• Lab/Radiology: No visitors are permitted at this time. Exceptions include: if the patient is a minor, disabled, or other requirement is needed that hospital associates are unable to provide.
• Ultrasounds: One visitor may be permitted.
• North Wing/Nursing Home Residence: Please review the current policy (click here) or call Randi Rushing for additional details (585) 798-8120.

The following will not be permitted:

• Anyone who reports or exhibits shortness of breath, fever, cough, or other potential Covid-19 symptoms
• Individuals who have an active diagnosis of Covid-19 or who are persons under investigation for Covid-19.
• Individuals wanting to visit a hospital patient who has an active diagnosis of Covid-19 or who is a person under investigation with Covid-19 or had contact with a person who is actively under investigation for Covid-19 within 10 days.
• Individuals under quarantine for any other reason including out-of-state travel as defined by the most current New York State travel advisory.

Press Release, Plug Power Inc.

TOWN OF ALABAMA – Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power Inc., a leading provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, welcomed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday to its green hydrogen production facility and electric substation under development in the New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP), a 1,250-acre mega-site located at the center of upstate New York’s largest population, research, and workforce training hubs.

Schumer, a proponent of hydrogen energy, announced his plans to push for new jobs and tenants at STAMP and make it a domestic hub for the clean energy industries and semiconductor industries.

“The support of Sen. Schumer and Congress plays a key role in helping to bring affordable hydrogen to the market,” Marsh said. “We appreciate their leadership on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will help to promote the production and deployment of green hydrogen.”

Schumer, who has long sought clean energy solutions, spoke today about the government’s role in promoting the adoption of hydrogen energy and driving down its costs through research and development to decarbonize the economy. He said, with the help of Plug Power, the country can jump start the 21st century hydrogen economy.

Schumer’s visit to STAMP comes as Plug Power builds new production plants across the U.S. with plans to produce 500 tons per day of liquid green hydrogen by 2025 and 1,000 tons per day globally by 2028. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water with electricity generated from zero-carbon sources and only harmless oxygen is emitted during the process.

As North America’s largest green hydrogen production facility, the STAMP plant will produce 45 metric tons of green liquid hydrogen daily servicing the Northeast region. The plant will use 120 megawatts from Plug’s state-of-the-art PEM electrolyzers, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen through an electrochemical process, generated using clean New York hydropower.

The Plug plant is supported by a comprehensive state and local incentive package from the New York Power Authority, Empire State Development and Genesee County. Marsh and Schumer were joined by local officials including Genesee County Manager Matt Landers, Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein, Genesee County Legislators Chad Klotzbach and Gordon Dibble, Alabama Town Supervisor Robert Crossen, and GCEDC President & CEO Steve Hyde.

“The STAMP site was designed and is being built to enable the acceleration of new technologies and advances in manufacturing with our outstanding renewable energy and talent availability,” said GCEDC President & CEO Steve Hyde. “The commitment by Plug Power to bring green hydrogen to the market with Project Gateway at STAMP, and of Senate Majority Leader Schumer to expand the benefits created by Plug Power and green hydrogen manufacturing, are true examples of STAMP’s vision being implemented to the benefit of Genesee County, our region and state, and for the future of our economy and environment.”