Arcuri to hold public hearing on power line issues
NORWICH – With no public hearings scheduled within 140 miles of where a controversial federal policy would assist the New York Regional Interconnect power line to be built, Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) is holding an informational meeting Saturday in Norwich to help explain, and denounce, the process.
Guided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the U.S. Department of Energy has listed all eight counties NYRI would encroach as part of a draft-version Mid-Atlantic “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor,” which runs from Northern New York state into Virgina. A second corridor covers portions of Arizona, California, and Nevada. Within these corridors, the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission can fast-track power line proposals and approve projects that have been denied at the state level.
Since the announcement in April, the DOE has held several public hearings to gather comments the agency says will be considered when formulating the official NIETC’s designations later this year. The closest such meeting locally was held May 24 in New York City. Another has been tentatively scheduled for Rochester, 140 miles from where NYRI’s line – the only visible project that will currently benefit from the NIETC – would begin.
Arcuri’s hearing will start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the City of Norwich Fire House on East Main Street.
“How in good conscience can the DOE make a decision that would affect the lives of tens of thousands of my continents without hearing their concerns firsthand?,” Arcuri said. “I want to ensure that my constituents have the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns, and fully participate in the public comment process. I urge local residents to attend these public forums, so I can take their comments to the DOE and continue the fight to prevent NYRI from running roughshod over local communities.”
The DOE is also taking written comments that can be mailed or submitted online at http://nietc.anl.gov until June 30. Arcuri will also collect written comments at his hearing.
Hubbardsville resident Chris Rossi is urging citizens to take advantage of Arcuri’s hearing.
“The DOE is making it tough for regular, hard working folks to give their imput,” said Rossi, who also co-chairs Stop NYRI, a citizens group from Chenango and Madison counties. “It’s almost like they don’t want to hear from us. But this affects everyone – these are your rights going out the window.
“Find out about this procedure and hear about ways we can continue being active and vigilent.”
NYRI is proposing to build a $1.6 billion high voltage transmission line from Oneida to Orange County. Company spokesman say the line will relieve energy constraints downstate and improve electricity reliability which experts say could come into question in the next five to ten years. However, thousands along the nearly 200-mile route have come out against the NYRI project, citing what they believe are negative health, environmental, and economic impacts. Many feel the power line is overkill, and that more practical solutions sould fix downstate’s problem.
The federal government can override a state’s authority – in New York it’s the Public Service Commission – over power line siting if it fails to approve a project within one year of its official filing or if the project is approved with unreasonable conditions attatched. However, they can also approve a project even if it has been denied.
NYRI’s one -year clock has not begun. It’s first official filing was denied by the PSC. Its second filing was set for June 1, but has yet to occur.
Mail comments to the DOE at:
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
Guided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the U.S. Department of Energy has listed all eight counties NYRI would encroach as part of a draft-version Mid-Atlantic “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor,” which runs from Northern New York state into Virgina. A second corridor covers portions of Arizona, California, and Nevada. Within these corridors, the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission can fast-track power line proposals and approve projects that have been denied at the state level.
Since the announcement in April, the DOE has held several public hearings to gather comments the agency says will be considered when formulating the official NIETC’s designations later this year. The closest such meeting locally was held May 24 in New York City. Another has been tentatively scheduled for Rochester, 140 miles from where NYRI’s line – the only visible project that will currently benefit from the NIETC – would begin.
Arcuri’s hearing will start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the City of Norwich Fire House on East Main Street.
“How in good conscience can the DOE make a decision that would affect the lives of tens of thousands of my continents without hearing their concerns firsthand?,” Arcuri said. “I want to ensure that my constituents have the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns, and fully participate in the public comment process. I urge local residents to attend these public forums, so I can take their comments to the DOE and continue the fight to prevent NYRI from running roughshod over local communities.”
The DOE is also taking written comments that can be mailed or submitted online at http://nietc.anl.gov until June 30. Arcuri will also collect written comments at his hearing.
Hubbardsville resident Chris Rossi is urging citizens to take advantage of Arcuri’s hearing.
“The DOE is making it tough for regular, hard working folks to give their imput,” said Rossi, who also co-chairs Stop NYRI, a citizens group from Chenango and Madison counties. “It’s almost like they don’t want to hear from us. But this affects everyone – these are your rights going out the window.
“Find out about this procedure and hear about ways we can continue being active and vigilent.”
NYRI is proposing to build a $1.6 billion high voltage transmission line from Oneida to Orange County. Company spokesman say the line will relieve energy constraints downstate and improve electricity reliability which experts say could come into question in the next five to ten years. However, thousands along the nearly 200-mile route have come out against the NYRI project, citing what they believe are negative health, environmental, and economic impacts. Many feel the power line is overkill, and that more practical solutions sould fix downstate’s problem.
The federal government can override a state’s authority – in New York it’s the Public Service Commission – over power line siting if it fails to approve a project within one year of its official filing or if the project is approved with unreasonable conditions attatched. However, they can also approve a project even if it has been denied.
NYRI’s one -year clock has not begun. It’s first official filing was denied by the PSC. Its second filing was set for June 1, but has yet to occur.
Mail comments to the DOE at:
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
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