NORWICH – Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) kept his word Monday and unveiled – in-person – two federal anti-power line bills to citizens in Chenango County.
Congressman Arcuri broke down the tandem pieces of legislation – which are aimed at curbing New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s 400,000 volt transmission line proposal – to the crowd of roughly 35 to 40 that gathered in the City of Norwich Fire Department. On hand were state Assemblyman Cliff Crouch, city Mayor Joseph Maiurano, city Supervisor Linda Natoli, and Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law. Arcuri had originally scheduled the introduction for Feb. 5, but postponed it due to inclement weather.
The NYRI power line would take upstate electricity supplies downstate, cutting through eight counties – including 44 miles of Chenango – on its way. Citizens and local officials have come out in droves to oppose the project, arguing the line in an unnecessary, arbitrary, and solely lucrative energy solution that would devastate the rural communities and environments that would host it. NYRI is a subsidiary of Colmac Power, a Canadian energy firm. The identities of all the project’s investors are unknown.
The congressman told the crowd that the NYRI issue is personal.
“The proposal NYRI has designated as their primary route runs just a couple hundred yards from my home in South Utica,” Arcuri said. “But that’s not the only reason I support the effort to fight this project – this power line, at the admission of its own backers, will raise energy costs for the very upstate communities that would be devastated by the construction and towers.”
The first bill calls for the partial repeal of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which potentially gives the federal government power to override the state’s final decision regarding NYRI’s 190-mile-long power line. The second – which is admittedly less broad – looks to remove the Albany power line developer’s use of federal eminent domain powers to take private property if its $1.6 billion project is given regulatory approval. If passed, NYRI would then only be able to use state eminent domain authority, which they are currently barred from using under New York state law. The state law is being contested in a lawsuit by NYRI in Albany federal district court.
The bills were drafted by Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley), John Hall (D-Dover Plains), and Arcuri said the two items are currently at the committee level in the House and have yet to foster companion legislation in the Senate. However, he contended the bills have had an impact on NYRI, and urged citizens to remain united in their opposition.
“Don’t let NYRI define how the issue will be debated,” he said.
Chris Brunner, a Norwich resident and member of the citizens group STOP NYRI, hopes the legislation creates one more roadblock for NYRI, acknowledging it may be challenged much like the similar state law is now being contested.
“It faces the same potential legal rebuttal as the one the governor (Pataki) signed for us (in October),” Brunner said. “But it’s meant to be a roadblock to the siting of these power lines.”
Commenting on Arcuri’s bills, Assemblyman Crouch said making legislative progress gets harder at the federal level.
“It’s going to be a tough road,” Crouch said. “The bottom line is we have to try.”
Audience members also brought up questions and suggestions about creating federal standards regarding the electro-magnetic fields power lines create, which Greene resident Dr. Les Roberts said could have painfully negative health impacts on citizens who would live near NYRI’s facilities.