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Tasmanian trainer fined $2,000 for animal cruelty after repeatedly whipping racehorse
Tasmanian trainer fined $2,000 for animal cruelty after repeatedly whipping racehorse

The Guardian

time4 days ago

  • The Guardian

Tasmanian trainer fined $2,000 for animal cruelty after repeatedly whipping racehorse

A Tasmanian racehorse trainer has been fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to animal cruelty for whipping a horse more than 40 times in four minutes. Liandra Gray was found guilty of one count of causing unreasonable and unjustifiable pain to 7-year-old thoroughbred gelding The Bolt by striking him repeatedly with a padded racing whip. Magistrate Evan Hughes found the charge proven after a hearing in the Devonport magistrates court in May, and on Wednesday handed down a fine of $2,000, saying the court needed to demonstrate a general deterrent to breaches of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act. The maximum penalty under the act is an $18,000 fine and 12 months' prison. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter The lightly raced horse has had 11 starts and been unplaced in all, with the court hearing from other trainers the gelding had been a difficult horse to train. CCTV footage from the Spreyton racecourse, shown to the court, showed Gray leading The Bolt into a sand roll – an enclosed yard filled with deep sand where horses are allowed to roll after training – and, holding him by the bridle, appearing to whip him. The footage did not show the whip making contact in all cases, the court heard, but the sound of the whip could be heard. Gray told the court in May she was not angry at The Bolt or punishing him, and had gone to the sand roll to lunge him, a training technique where the horse is encouraged to move out in a circle, using specialist equipment which was not used in this case. Hughes said in May that Gray's explanation was 'self-serving' and in conflict with the views of expert witnesses. Hughes said although there had been no evidence of ongoing injury or pain, he still found The Bolt would have suffered moderate to severe pain during the incident. The court was earlier told the offence was out of character for Gray and she had been under considerable strain at the time, including financial stress and an ongoing acrimonious separation from the father of her young child, with her parents paying her legal costs. Hughes said he noted Gray's personal circumstances and acknowledged the offence was out of character. He also noted the 'unwanted media attention' the case had generated, saying it served as a form of punishment for Gray. The court heard in earlier submissions that Gray had been vilified on social media since the incident and deeply regretted her actions. Hughes found that despite being out of character, Gray's actions were deliberate and intentional. Sign up to The Rural Network Subscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs after newsletter promotion He also noted the offence was committed at a time when the horse was in a vulnerable position, in an enclosed space, and attached to a bridle. Hughes said the fine imposed took out into account Gray's limited financial means, also noting any sentence beyond a fine could have a significant impact on Gray's future in the racing industry and the opportunity for further employment. The Tasmanian branch of the RSPCA had sought a ban on Gray training or owning animals, but Hughes said Gray had no prior convictions under the act at the time and a fine only was appropriate in this case. In an unrelated incident, Gray was fined $4,000 in 2023 by the Tasmanian Office of Racing Integrity for mistreatment of a horse under Australian Rules of Racing. An inquiry at the time was told Gray rode a horse during training when it was lame and failed to provide adequate treatment in a timely manner. Half of that fine was suspended on condition she did not reoffend under the same rule for two years, with that term expiring in May this year. Gray has been involved in the Tasmanian racing industry for more than 20 years, initially as a track worker and later a trainer, having trained 39 winners and 33 place-getters, realising more than $1.2m in prize money for owners. Martin Agatyn is a reporter in north-west Tasmania Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter

MN8 Energy Announces Groundbreaking Gateway to Hunts Point Project: First-of-Its-Kind Freight EV Charging Hub and Workforce Development Center
MN8 Energy Announces Groundbreaking Gateway to Hunts Point Project: First-of-Its-Kind Freight EV Charging Hub and Workforce Development Center

Business Wire

time23-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • Business Wire

MN8 Energy Announces Groundbreaking Gateway to Hunts Point Project: First-of-Its-Kind Freight EV Charging Hub and Workforce Development Center

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MN8 Energy LLC, a New York-based leading renewable energy company, today announced the Gateway to Hunts Point FDC project, a transformative freight electric vehicle charging hub and workforce development center in the South Bronx. The comprehensive facility will feature 42 EV charging plugs designed specifically for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, a welcome center and workforce development hub called "The Bolt," and a planned community solar installation. The Gateway to Hunts Point project exemplifies MN8's commitment to building sustainable infrastructure that sparks economic development while bringing tangible environmental solutions to the communities where we operate. - Alan Dowdell, Head of DES, MN8 Share The project represents one of the largest investments in freight electrification infrastructure in New York City and directly addresses key health and environmental concerns in the Hunts Point community, which experiences asthma rates 2.5 times higher than the city average due to heavy truck traffic. "The Gateway to Hunts Point project exemplifies our commitment to building sustainable infrastructure that sparks economic development while bringing tangible environmental solutions to the communities where we operate," said Alan Dowdell, Head of Distributed Energy Solutions at MN8 Energy. "This isn't just about charging trucks – it's about creating opportunity and jobs, improving air quality, and building a more equitable clean energy future for the Hunts Point community." Addressing Critical Infrastructure Needs The facility will serve the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, the largest wholesale food hub in the nation, which currently sees over 15,000 daily truck trips delivering fresh meat, fish, and produce to the New York City metropolitan area. The charging infrastructure includes: 32 DCFC EV charging plugs ranging from 180 – 360 kW 10 Level 2 EV charging plugs e-bike and e-scooter charging stations Future-proofed design to accommodate additional and higher-powered chargers to meet growing demand 'MN8 Energy's development will serve as a critical element for EV charging while providing a space for high-quality job development in the Hunts Point peninsula as we continue to transform the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center into a modern place that exemplifies sustainability, resiliency, and economic development,' said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. The Bolt: Community-Centered Design The project's centerpiece, "The Bolt" Welcome Center and Workforce Development Hub, will provide food and beverage options, flexible event and training spaces, and serve as a hub for job readiness, community engagement, and workforce development in collaboration with Bronx is Breathing partners. The facility is planned to include: Flexible classrooms and event spaces for CDL training and EV orientation workshops Employment and recruiting office for local organizations Convenience store and dining options Public amenities including WiFi, meditation room, and outdoor garden spaces Environmental and Economic Impact The Gateway to Hunts Point project is projected to deliver significant environmental benefits: Reduction of over 66,000 tons of CO2 emissions between 2029 and 2039 Elimination of hundreds of thousands of pounds of criteria air pollutants Community solar installation expected to serve approximately 300 local households Tree-lined streets for additional CO2 absorption and heat island reduction The project will create substantial economic opportunities: 11 permanent, high-quality full-time equivalent jobs Over 100 temporary construction jobs 15% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in design and construction Support for local workforce development through partnerships with community organizations 'On behalf of the Greater Hunts Point EDC, we are thrilled that the Bronx Is Breathing project, and the City of New York are finally able to celebrate this key milestone. This was not an easy journey, and I salute the hard work of all the dedicated professionals at both NYCEDC and MN8 Energy,' said Don Eversley, Executive Director, Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation. 'We also deeply appreciate the patience and commitment of the State's energy agency - NYSERDA - and Volvo Group North America, which together provided the vision, core funding, and structure for Bronx Is Breathing. Positioning the first East Coast truck charging station in Hunts Point will be a game-changing event on the road to both better air quality and a sustainable transportation future for the South Bronx. Let's go!' Reducing Barriers to Electrification The project specifically addresses barriers that prevent smaller fleets from adopting electric vehicles: Discounted charging rates for Food Distribution Center tenants Fleet transition planning support and grant navigation assistance Flexible trial periods for fleets testing electrification 24/7 customer support and 99%+ uptime guarantee Supporting The Bronx is Breathing Initiative The Bronx is Breathing team comprises Hunts Point leaders in community development and public engagement alongside industry-leading OEM and infrastructure providers, clean transportation experts, and economic development specialists. The Gateway to Hunts Point project supports the initiative's goals, including: Training 420 commercial drivers over three years Conducting six EV orientation workshops Creating 46 additional full-time and part-time jobs through partner organizations "Today represents the work of many able hands and a hard-won victory at a moment of great challenge and strain for frontline communities like Hunts Point,' said Paul Lipson, Co-Principal, Barretto Bay Strategies. 'Addressing the longstanding aspirations of Hunts Point residents to breathe clean air and meaningfully participate in a thriving regional economy has been the decades long mission of the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corp and The POINT CDC, the project's two partners, who have carried this work forward and without whom today's milestone would still be a distant vision. Together with Volvo, MN8, NYCEDC, NYCDOT, and NYSERDA, and our magnificent local electeds, The Bronx is Breathing and its pioneering freight charging hub are proving that environmental equity and economic development are not opposing values. In fact, aligning them and unlocking their congruities is at the vital center of our collective efforts and is truly the work of our time." The Bronx is Breathing: Reimagining a Cleaner Hunts Point today also introduced the first electric trucks which were supported by The New York Clean Transportation Prizes program — administered by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. Industry Leadership and Innovation MN8 Energy brings proven expertise to the project, including through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz in the development, construction, and operation of the nationwide Mercedes-Benz High Power Charging network. MN8 currently operates over 900 clean energy projects totaling approximately 4GW of renewable energy and battery storage assets across North America. "Our experience with leading Fortune 500 clients gives us the technical expertise and operational excellence needed for this groundbreaking project," said Michael Miller, Distributed Energy Solutions Manager at MN8 Energy. "We're applying enterprise-grade solutions to serve community needs and drive the freight electrification transformation." Partners Playing to Their Strengths MN8 prepared the project proposal in collaboration with Atlantis Management Group, Working Power, EO Charging, Dattner Architects, INF Associates, and Kimley-Horn. As the execution phase begins, MN8 will select the optimal long-term partners to ensure expertise in sustainable development, renewable energy, EV charging technology, and community engagement. The community solar component, led by Working Power, will be co-owned with local community organizations, providing 50% community ownership and direct economic benefits to residents. Next Steps and Timeline The project is expected to begin construction in 2027, with operations planned to commence by 2029. The facility will be accessible 24/7 and include advanced reservation systems, mobile app integration, and comprehensive customer support. Community engagement will continue throughout the development process, with regular updates and opportunities for local input on workforce development programming and community benefits. About MN8 Energy MN8 Energy serves enterprise customers on their journey to an electrified, decarbonized world by providing renewable energy and related services. With approximately 4 gigawatts of operational and under-construction solar projects, 1.1 gigawatt hours of battery energy storage capacity comprised of over 874 projects across 29 states, and more than 40 high-power EV charging stations across 10 states, MN8 is one of the largest and most sophisticated independent solar energy and energy storage power producers in the United States. MN8 is headquartered in New York and has offices in South Florida, Dallas, and Madrid.

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