NORWICH – Recent editorials in two New York City newspapers criticizing state power line policy say the federal government’s designation of controversial energy corridors is “the right thing to do” since “Not In My Back Yard” anti-NYRI activists and lawmakers upstate are preventing “juice” from getting downstate.
Touting New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s $1.6 billion power line proposal, the two editorials call on the politicians and upstaters to see “the big picture” and “get power lines built – lines such as the New York Regional Interconnection – which would send juice from upstate to downstate.”
“The federal Energy Department is pushing New York to give fair consideration to a proposed power line that would deliver much-needed electricity from upstate to the New York City area,” states the Oct. 8 editorial in the New York Daily News titled, “Power to the People.” “It’s the right thing for the government to do.”
The Daily News columnist also calls out state lawmakers for creating a law that blocks NYRI’s use of eminent domain to take private property. “Never mind the city is starved for juice and gets walloped with high electric bills,” it states. “The pols cared only about pacifying upstaters opposed to new transmission towers.”
A second op-ed piece, “Emission: Impossible,” published in the Nov. 23 issue of the New York Post, attacks Governor Spitzer’s energy policy. Specifically, the author claims Spitzer’s “anti-nuclear” stance – asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct further reviews of the Indian Point Nuclear plant, which as of spring 2007 had several contamination and safety issues – and his push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by forcing power plants to purchase carbon allowances for every ton of carbon emissions, will drive costs for power plants, weaken energy supplies and increase electricity bills for New Yorkers whose “demand for electricity shows no signs of abating.” When combined with Spitzer’s open opposition to NYRI, the editorial asks, “exactly what kind of energy does he favor?”
“Under Congress’ directive, the U.S. Department of Energy created the National Interest Electric Corridor to prevent blackouts like that of ‘03. To maintain grid stability, the feds can overrule objections by Not In My Back Yard activists and can get power lines built – lines such as the New York Regional Interconnection, which would send juice from upstate to downstate,” the Post editorial states. “Since New Yorkers’ growing demand for electricity shows no signs of abating, new transmission and energy sources are critical.”
The editorial claims New York will need 1,750 to 2,000 more megawatts of electricity by 2011.
However, according to a report created by the New York Independent System Operator – the state’s federally regulated electricity grid manager – NYRI’s line, which would run from Utica to Orange County through 44 miles of Chenango, is not required to meet the state’s energy needs through to 2016.
NYRI spokesman David Kalson, who sent the editorials to The Evening Sun, says the two pieces take “big picture,” and not local, views of the challenges facing the entire state.
“They each take big picture views of the problems New York faces in responsibly meeting its citizens’ increasing demands for reliable and affordable electric power,” said Kalson. “While the editorials do not address local issues, they do show how New York must make some tough decisions on behalf of all New Yorkers in order to guarantee electrical reliability. And, those decisions must be balanced with reducing environmental impacts and keeping electricity costs for consumers down. Both newspapers apparently see new transmission (and NYRI’s transmission project) as part of the solution.”
Chris Rossi, an anti-NYRI activist from Hubbardsville and co-chair of Stop NYRI, says neither editorial considers the need for energy conservation, but instead endorses what she claims is bad energy policy and a poorly planned power line project.
“This is the sort of alarmism that does not help our citizens get the real picture about what is going on here,” said Rossi, after reading the editorials. “We don’t have to say no to bad energy policy embodied by NIETC and poorly planned transmission lines in exchange for doom and devastation...Giving private companies such as NYRI the right of eminent domain through NIETC is not in anyone's best interest.
“What neither of these authors seem to feel a need to talk about is energy efficiency and conservation on the part of the consumers. Our neighbors across the state could easily cut their consumption and thus their costs and emissions right now,” Rossi continued. “There are pretty painless ways to do that from going on the night rate for your hot water heater to just swapping in new energy efficient bulbs. Less energy required, less generation and transmission needed as well. Both New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Gov. Spitzer are working towards this goal with their current energy policies.”
The Energy Department created two “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors” in an effort to speed up electricity transmission projects in energy congested states, it claims. Inside a corridor, Washington can take over a power line review if the state fails to grant approval. The east coast corridor covers most of New York state.
Many upstate residents, along with members of Congress, Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Gov. Spitzer, and several state department heads have asked that the New York be removed from the corridor designation.
NYRI has yet to file a complete application to undergo a state review. It’s first application was deemed “deficient” because it failed to provide adequate information and proof its project would increase energy reliability.
NYRI opponents fear the corridor policy will push that project ahead, claiming it has yet to prove it’s needed.