Senate bill wouldn’t allow power company to use eminent domain
CHENANGO COUNTY – Representatives from New York Regional Interconnect estimate they will need to acquire $70 million dollars in private property to span a 190-mile high power line from Marcy to Rock Tavern. If state representatives opposed to the project have their way, none will be obtained using eminent domain.
A bill introduced to the senate by Republicans John J. Bonacic, Thomas W. Libous, and Raymond Meier, would do away with a section of the state’s Transportation Corporations Law which allows private electric companies to take land via eminent domain. The amendment was introduced Friday and is currently being debated.
“New York State Law should not allow NYRI to take our residents’ property for NYRI’s profit. The legislation I have introduced will stop that,” Bonacic said.
At a senate hearing held at the Norwich High School on Thursday, NYRI representatives admitted that their bulk transportation line would provide no new power above the lower Hudson Valley, and that wholesale electric rates would go up approximately 5 percent in the upstate region if the line were to be built. Beyond taking energy away from upstate consumers, NYRI would need to construct eight to 13 story electrical towers across the land of owners whose prices will hike.
Although NYRI claims that 90 percent of its proposed line runs along existing rights of way, and that properties in need of procurement have yet to be identified, worries have been aired that homes could be taken against resident’s wishes.
“Eminent domain, rightly understood, can be used for public projects like water, sewer, roads and bridges that result in the public good. It’s wrong that a private, for profit company can use that power to remove people from their property and build a power line that people don’t want and for which the need has yet to be proven,” Senator James L. Seward, R-Milford, said.
A bill introduced to the senate by Republicans John J. Bonacic, Thomas W. Libous, and Raymond Meier, would do away with a section of the state’s Transportation Corporations Law which allows private electric companies to take land via eminent domain. The amendment was introduced Friday and is currently being debated.
“New York State Law should not allow NYRI to take our residents’ property for NYRI’s profit. The legislation I have introduced will stop that,” Bonacic said.
At a senate hearing held at the Norwich High School on Thursday, NYRI representatives admitted that their bulk transportation line would provide no new power above the lower Hudson Valley, and that wholesale electric rates would go up approximately 5 percent in the upstate region if the line were to be built. Beyond taking energy away from upstate consumers, NYRI would need to construct eight to 13 story electrical towers across the land of owners whose prices will hike.
Although NYRI claims that 90 percent of its proposed line runs along existing rights of way, and that properties in need of procurement have yet to be identified, worries have been aired that homes could be taken against resident’s wishes.
“Eminent domain, rightly understood, can be used for public projects like water, sewer, roads and bridges that result in the public good. It’s wrong that a private, for profit company can use that power to remove people from their property and build a power line that people don’t want and for which the need has yet to be proven,” Senator James L. Seward, R-Milford, said.
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