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Summary

Abstract:
The records of the Rensselaer County Greens (RCG) contain relevant information behind its efforts to protect the Rensselaer County, New York community from the destruction of environment and historical landmarks.
Extent:
6.96 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Rensselaer County Greens Records, 1979-2004. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Rensselaer County Greens Records).

Background

Scope and Content:

The records of the Rensselaer County Greens (RCG) contain relevant information behind its efforts to protect the Rensselaer County community from the destruction of environment and historical landmarks. The records consist of applications, permits, court material, environmental statistics and research, news clippings, visual information, rulings, and audiovisuals. The main focus of the records is RCGs conflict with Besicorp and the factory the company planned to construct in Rensselaer.

The records were donated to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives by member, Eric Daillie. Many of the papers are records he personally created or collected, including correspondence, speeches, and political information he composed. The records came in boxes that were for the most part organized. Much of the information was already in folders and binders. The original order of the records in the collection was largely maintained with a few exceptions.

The records lack comprehensive information about the membership of RCG other than Eric Daillie. The strength of the records lies in documenting how the organization viewed individuals and other organizations who held opposing views.

Several collections in the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives provide further information on the environmental issues of concern to the Rensselaer County Greens. For a complete list of related collections see the subject guide for Conservation and the Environment. Of particular interest are the records of Tom Blandy (APAP-133), Jeanne Casatelli (APAP-150), and the Environmental Clearinghouse, Inc. (ECOS) (APAP-180).

Biographical / Historical:

The Rensselaer County Greens (RCG) was founded in January 1999. The organizations purpose is to strengthen the Rensselaer County community through the preservation of significant historical landmarks and through the encouragement of environmental-friendly procedures. The grassroots approach is designed to have the voice of every individual citizen interested in the community heard, with their involvement dictating how their community is run. No matter gender, race, age, or class, the RCG strives for the equal treatment for members of the Rensselaer community.

Since its inception, the organization has worked to save, protect, and dissuade Rensselaer County from accepting proposals that will compromise the environmental and living standards of the community. The RCG was a founding member of Historic Action Network. In RCGs first year of existence the organization successfully prevented a microchip semiconductor plant from being built in North Greenbush, NY. Behind one of the partys spokesmen, Eric Daillie, the Greens used community pressure to stop this microchip plant, known as Chip Fab, from being built. The environmental destruction and physical health issues that RCG believed would result led to their involvement in the issue.

In a more controversial and time-consuming case, the RCG spent the years 2000-2004 attempting to keep Besicorp out of Rensselaer. Besicorp-Empire Development Company, LLC, or BEDCO, wanted to build a $680 million state-of-the-art facility in Rensselaer in 2000. Besicorp planned to team up with Empire State Newsprint, LLC to create a recycled news clipping manufacturing facility and a cogeneration power facility. The desire to make the Hudson River waterfront aesthetically pleasing, protect the citizens from harmful pollutants, and to clean up the toxic by-products of the previous company, BASF, was the motivation for the RCG members to keep this new business out of Rensselaer. However, re-industrialization took precedence and both the power plant and the papermill received the necessary state permits to build. As of 2006, Besicorp has not constructed either facility.

The RCG has also been involved in many smaller projects during its existence. Preserving woodlands and farmland from being destroyed for the construction of highways, and the sprawl that would result, was an issue when the idea of an Interstate 90 connector was planned in East Greenbush. The preservation of historic landmarks is another issue RCG has been involved with including saving the Freihofer Building in Lansingburgh from being demolished and replaced by a drug store chain. Other initiatives undertaken by RCG are also documented in the organizations records.

Acquisition information:
Eric Daillie of the Rensselaer County Greens donated this collection in February 2005 .
Processing information:

Processed in 2006 by Orson Kingsley.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series: 1 - Besicorp-Empire Development Company, LLC: 1999-2004; 2 - BASF: 2000-2003, Undated; 3 - Chip Fab: 1998-2004, Undated; 4 - Series 4 - Other Projects: 2000-2004; Series 5 - Audiovisuals: 1999-2003.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

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Using These Materials

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RESTRICTIONS:

Access to this record group is unrestricted.

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This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.

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The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.

The Department of Special Collections and Archives is eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Rensselaer County Greens Records, 1979-2004. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Rensselaer County Greens Records).

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