NYRI demonstrators encouraged by hearing
NEW YORK CITY – Members of the local power line opposition say they were encouraged Wednesday by the turnout and the testimony at a hearing in Manhattan addressing a controversial energy policy that favors New York Regional Interconnect Inc.
Guided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, in April the U.S. Department of Energy announced the creation of two draft “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.” Although they are not yet official, power line projects within the two corridors – one runs from California to Arizona, the other from Virginia to northern New York state – could fall under federal jurisdiction rather than be subject to state authority. NYRI’s entire 190-mile power line route is covered by the “Mid-Atlantic” corridor, and if that designation is upheld, the project could eventually be approved in Washington even if it is denied by the New York state Public Service Commission.
A group of roughly 100 from different anti-NYRI groups, including the Chenango and Madison team, Stop NYRI, demonstrated and testified at the hearing.
Hubbardsville resident Chris Rossi, a co-chair of the local citizens group Stop NYRI, said testimony provided by the PSC and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities echoed the power line opposition’s call to keep the NYRI proposal, and others like it, a state issue.
“We were pleased to hear from the PSC and its equivalent in New Jersey weighing in very strongly that these are state issues,” Rossi said. “The federal government should not be involved in these power line siting issues.”
NYRI is proposing to build a 1,200 megawatt transmission line from Oneida to Orange County to relieve electricity constraints downstate. If approved, it would split 44 miles of Chenango County.
The NIETC designations are part of the push from Washington to rapidly upgrade the electricity grid with new transmission so high consumption areas like metropolitan New York are ensured affordable and reliable energy.
If the PSC fails to approve or deny NYRI’s Article VII power line review application within one year of its filing, or if it is approved with unfair conditions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be allowed to take over. However, FERC recently gave itself the power to step in and review a project even if it has been denied within the one year window. NYRI’s one-year has not begun yet.
PSC chairwoman Patricia Acampora told DOE officials that such federal intervention was “unwarranted.”
Contending that the NIETC policy discourages other forms of energy infrastructure improvements, like new generation facilities or existing grid upgrades, Samuel Wolfe, chief counsel of New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities, said exclusively promoting long-distance power lines “is taking a giant step toward a risky energy future.”
Earlville resident and Stop NYRI co-chair Eve Ann Shwartz, who was also on hand, said she was pleased that representatives of Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) and John Hall (D-Dover Plains) testified against the corridor designations. It was “disappointing” she said, that representatives of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton did not attend.
Shwartz it will still be up to the residents along the NYRI route to win the fight.
“We’re going to need every ounce of energy and unity we can get,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Guided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, in April the U.S. Department of Energy announced the creation of two draft “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.” Although they are not yet official, power line projects within the two corridors – one runs from California to Arizona, the other from Virginia to northern New York state – could fall under federal jurisdiction rather than be subject to state authority. NYRI’s entire 190-mile power line route is covered by the “Mid-Atlantic” corridor, and if that designation is upheld, the project could eventually be approved in Washington even if it is denied by the New York state Public Service Commission.
A group of roughly 100 from different anti-NYRI groups, including the Chenango and Madison team, Stop NYRI, demonstrated and testified at the hearing.
Hubbardsville resident Chris Rossi, a co-chair of the local citizens group Stop NYRI, said testimony provided by the PSC and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities echoed the power line opposition’s call to keep the NYRI proposal, and others like it, a state issue.
“We were pleased to hear from the PSC and its equivalent in New Jersey weighing in very strongly that these are state issues,” Rossi said. “The federal government should not be involved in these power line siting issues.”
NYRI is proposing to build a 1,200 megawatt transmission line from Oneida to Orange County to relieve electricity constraints downstate. If approved, it would split 44 miles of Chenango County.
The NIETC designations are part of the push from Washington to rapidly upgrade the electricity grid with new transmission so high consumption areas like metropolitan New York are ensured affordable and reliable energy.
If the PSC fails to approve or deny NYRI’s Article VII power line review application within one year of its filing, or if it is approved with unfair conditions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be allowed to take over. However, FERC recently gave itself the power to step in and review a project even if it has been denied within the one year window. NYRI’s one-year has not begun yet.
PSC chairwoman Patricia Acampora told DOE officials that such federal intervention was “unwarranted.”
Contending that the NIETC policy discourages other forms of energy infrastructure improvements, like new generation facilities or existing grid upgrades, Samuel Wolfe, chief counsel of New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities, said exclusively promoting long-distance power lines “is taking a giant step toward a risky energy future.”
Earlville resident and Stop NYRI co-chair Eve Ann Shwartz, who was also on hand, said she was pleased that representatives of Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) and John Hall (D-Dover Plains) testified against the corridor designations. It was “disappointing” she said, that representatives of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton did not attend.
Shwartz it will still be up to the residents along the NYRI route to win the fight.
“We’re going to need every ounce of energy and unity we can get,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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