Ratification Underscores Trades Council’s Confidence in Safety
of Battery Energy Storage System Planned for Town of Ulster
TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026 – Terra-Gen and the Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ensuring Hudson Valley unions represented by the Trades Council will build a battery energy storage system (BESS) Terra-Gen has proposed in the Town of Ulster.
“The Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council believes this BESS will benefit the Hudson Valley for years to come by supporting the safest, most advanced technology while providing significant union construction jobs for our highly skilled and specialized workforce,” said Council President L. Todd Diorio.
Terra-Gen has applied to build and operate a 250-megawatt lithium-ion BESS at 430 Hurley Ave. It would supply electricity to more than 250,000 homes and businesses for four hours, providing reliability and resiliency for the power grid. Battery storage helps stabilize the grid by storing electricity when supply is high and returning it when demand is greatest.
“Terra-Gen believes in the safety and quality of this BESS project, due to our nearly two decades of success,” said Terra-Gen Vice President Mark Turner. “We also have deep trust in the Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council’s union workforce, which has safely built the region’s largest projects, including the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, LEGOLAND® New York Resort and Resorts World Catskills in Monticello.”
Terra-Gen’s modern BESS facilities use fully tested, Underwriters Laboratories-certified modular steel enclosures that are designed and tested to be weather-tight and to limit the spread of thermal events, along with multiple layers of protection including continuous monitoring, controls and built-in safety features. When designed, installed and operated under New York’s updated requirements, these systems effectively manage fire risk and protect the public and first responders.
Turner noted that Terra-Gen will build the BESS to conform to New York’s stringent fire codes, which mandate extensive fire testing of BESS units before installation and ensure that any fire risk is contained to a single battery cabinet.
Terra-Gen’s application to build and operate the BESS is being reviewed by the Town of Ulster. Terra-Gen supports the Town Board requiring a “positive declaration” (meaning a comprehensive environmental review), as requested by the community. Turner said this comprehensive environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) will establish that the BESS can be built and operated safely, with no health impacts.
Diorio said the Trades Council agreed to the MOA due to Terra-Gen’s commitment to safety and the most advanced technology. The Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council is a coalition of 29 local unions representing unionized construction workers. It promotes the importance of skilled labor, fair wages and working conditions, and it lobbies for beneficial legislation. The organization also cultivates the next generation of skilled tradespeople through training and apprenticeships.
BESS facilities are widely used across the United States, including multiple sites operated by Terra-Gen. Recent safety updates include:
- The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code recently added more stringent parameters. These safety requirements were applauded by fire safety leaders, including from the New York City Fire Department, who said, “We are here to say clearly and confidently: Battery energy storage systems, when installed and operated under New York’s rigorous and updated safety standards, are safe.”
- New York’s Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) asserted: “New York’s codes are among the highest standards internationally and are designed to reduce risk while ensuring that in the rare case a fire does happen, it is contained and does not pose a threat.”
- New York Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha and State Sen. Michelle Hinchey have stated that BESS systems can be operated safely.
- The Electric Power Research Institute reported that BESS incidents worldwide dropped 97% from 2018-2023 thanks to advancing technology and standards.
- A Fire & Risk Alliance report for the American Clean Power Association confirmed that “The implementation of robust national codes and design advancements have significantly improved fire safety and reduced risks.”
Terra-Gen will develop a Town of Ulster BESS emergency response plan in close coordination with local first responders, continuing dialogue that started in February 2025. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, pending final approvals.
For more information about the Town of Ulster Project and Terra-Gen’s commitment to safety, visit UlsterCleanEnergy.com and. Facebook.com/TerraGenTownOfUlster. Learn more about Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council at http://www.builditunion.org
