COHOES — Norlite, the Cohoes-based construction materials manufacturer accused of exposing a nearby community to dangerous emissions, has hired lobbyists who have directly reached out to officials with the same state agencies actively suing the company, according to public records.
While it’s not unusual for companies or corporations that are embroiled in regulatory battles with a state agency to hire lobbyists, some Cohoes residents believe that money should have been used for upgrades at the facility to alleviate the ongoing dust problems.
A review by the newspaper of state disclosure filings shows that Norlite and its parent company, Tradebe, have spent $284,000 since 2023 on lobbying, mostly targeting state officials and the state assemblyman who represents the district where the plant is located…