WASHINGTON – Congress defeated an amendment Wednesday, 257 to 174, that would have blocked funding for a controversial federal energy corridor program that fast-track’s the construction of electricity transmission facilities like the New York Regional Interconnection.
Members on both sides of the power line issue saw the vote as a win.
A representative for NYRI, a Canadian-backed company proposing to build a 190-mile long power line through eight upstate counties, called Congress’ action against the legislation, introduced by U.S. representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) and Frank Wolf (D-Vienna, Va), a “victory for energy security and environmental stewardship.” NYRI contends its power line will relieve electricity congestion downstate.
U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (D-Utica), one of the more vocal opponents of NYRI and the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor program – which could override state authority and give companies like NYRI the power of federal eminent domain to take private property – saw the defeat as a “good first-step” in educating other states about the pros and cons of creating a large-scale power line cattle call.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) was important,” Arcuri said in telephone interview Thursday. “We’ve taken a local issue and made it a national issue.”
Locally, citizens up and down NYRI’s proposed power line route have come out in opposition to the project. Many fear it would devastate local economies, alter the natural environment and deter future growth and tourism in an already depressed area. Many have called for energy conservation and generation closer to Metropolitan New York, where NYRI’s line would deliver cheaper upstate electricity. Talk of the project has already halted a planned hotel and resort in the Town of Norwich, hotel investors and municipal officials have said.
Questions about NYRI’s corporate identity, motives and credentials as a power line developer have also arisen. In June 2006, after being prompted by state Senators, Project Manager Bill May and NYRI attorney Len Singer admitted that the company’s project would raise electricity rates upstate, that they couldn’t say who their employers were, and that they didn’t know if the power line was for private or public good. In July, NYRI’s first official review application was turned away by the state Public Service Commission because it lacked information about the project’s impact on the environment and electricity reliability.
Still, May says the project will benefit New York state and the nation.
“The vote to defeat the Hinchey/Wolf amendment was really a victory for energy security and environmental stewardship,” said May in a written statement Thursday. “New transmission lines, along with conservation and new generation from clean sources, will play a key role in ensuring reliable electricity supplies. We hope this bipartisan vote by the House will encourage states to take actions that will keep our nation’s energy lifeblood flowing.”
NYRI plans to re-submit its application with the PSC at the end of the summer.
Arcuri said over the past six months he’s gained allies in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia, and that interest in the issue among representatives in non-corridor states has grown. Added support will be a key when future legislation seeking to repeal federal eminent domain powers is introduced later this year.
“That’s ultimately our goal,” said Arcuri on removing eminent domain.
He added that the corridor designations, which cover most of New York state and seven others in the Mid-Atlantic, have unnecessarily burdened constituents with fear and pitted upstate versus downstate.
“We can’t allow groups like NYRI to split upstate and downstate,” he said. “We will work with New York City to come up with the best solution.”

e-mail: mmcguire@evesun.com