GAO releases NYRI report
NORWICH – Building more high-voltage power lines may decrease electricity congestion, improve energy reliability and lower costs for utility consumers in high-priced, densely-populated areas.
However, new transmission projects like New York Regional Interconnect’s may also diminish rural landscapes, remove incentives to conserve energy in high-use parts of the country and lower property values and raise electricity rates where they’re built.
According to a report released Friday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, those are some of advantages and disadvantages of adding new power lines to the nation’s electricity grid.
The report’s findings – gathered from GAO interviews with federal and state agencies, as well as environmentalists, energy stakeholders and private industry representatives – echo many of the arguments already brought forth by NYRI supporters and opponents in the two years since the controversial project was first introduced.
Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica), who’s against NYRI, says unlike the speculation from those both for and against the 190-mile-long power line, the GAO report is an un-biased source that gives truth to much of the speculation surrounding the issue.
“Now we have pretty clear confirmation on many of things we’ve already talked about,” said Arcuri in a phone interview with reporters Friday, pointing out the report’s conclusions that new power lines could possibly raise electricity rates, lower property values and hurt programs to cut-back energy use. “(The) report is vindication for families, businesses, and local government who have stood up to NYRI’s attempts to run roughshod over local communities. For the first time, an outside, non-partisan source has found that siting new transmission lines, such as the one proposed by NYRI, may raise energy prices where the line starts, reduce property values and stunt alternative energy initiatives and energy conservation.”
It is not clear what impact the GAO findings will have on NYRI’s Article VII power line permit review that’s expected to get underway this month in Albany.
Arcuri, who sponsored the amendment that required the GAO to compile the report as part of the 9/11 Commission Act, did acknowledge that the findings also support pro-power line arguments as well – that new transmission facilities could decrease congestion, increase energy reliability and cut consumer costs where power is needed.
“You could obviously say that,” he said.
The report, based on interviews and visits to sites in New York, Utah and Virginia, examined the potential pros and cons of siting transmission facilities along existing railroads, highways and natural gas pipelines.
It also assessed the impact of federal involvement in the power line permitting process. Inside newly-formed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors – which currently cover most of New York and 11 other states – the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can approve power line projects that have been denied at the state level. The measure is an effort to fast track investments in the nation’s electricity grid, prompting proposal from companies like NYRI.
“FERC officials told us they expect the review of a transmission line proposal in the national corridors would have little impact on the states’ existing process,” the report claims.
NYRI and several NYRI opponents were not available for comment Sunday or Monday morning.
While it did not offer definitive impacts, the GAO report concluded a series of possible impacts new power lines could create.
It stated that new lines could make wholesale electricity markets more competitive, facilitate electricity sources outside populated center and facilitate development of renewable energy sources.
It also added that if built along transportation right of ways, it could increase the risks of accidents (if there were a train derailment, like recent ones in Oneida and Canastota, or truck accident). Electromagnetic fields created by the lines could also create problems for workers and facilities unless preventative measures are taken, the report says.
While it hasn’t been studied by federal authorities, the report speculated that if a power line were built along a natural gas pipe-line it may make an “attractive” target for a terrorist attack.
NYRI is proposing to build a $1.6 billion power line from Utica to Orange County that would cut through 44 miles of Chenango County.
However, new transmission projects like New York Regional Interconnect’s may also diminish rural landscapes, remove incentives to conserve energy in high-use parts of the country and lower property values and raise electricity rates where they’re built.
According to a report released Friday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, those are some of advantages and disadvantages of adding new power lines to the nation’s electricity grid.
The report’s findings – gathered from GAO interviews with federal and state agencies, as well as environmentalists, energy stakeholders and private industry representatives – echo many of the arguments already brought forth by NYRI supporters and opponents in the two years since the controversial project was first introduced.
Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica), who’s against NYRI, says unlike the speculation from those both for and against the 190-mile-long power line, the GAO report is an un-biased source that gives truth to much of the speculation surrounding the issue.
“Now we have pretty clear confirmation on many of things we’ve already talked about,” said Arcuri in a phone interview with reporters Friday, pointing out the report’s conclusions that new power lines could possibly raise electricity rates, lower property values and hurt programs to cut-back energy use. “(The) report is vindication for families, businesses, and local government who have stood up to NYRI’s attempts to run roughshod over local communities. For the first time, an outside, non-partisan source has found that siting new transmission lines, such as the one proposed by NYRI, may raise energy prices where the line starts, reduce property values and stunt alternative energy initiatives and energy conservation.”
It is not clear what impact the GAO findings will have on NYRI’s Article VII power line permit review that’s expected to get underway this month in Albany.
Arcuri, who sponsored the amendment that required the GAO to compile the report as part of the 9/11 Commission Act, did acknowledge that the findings also support pro-power line arguments as well – that new transmission facilities could decrease congestion, increase energy reliability and cut consumer costs where power is needed.
“You could obviously say that,” he said.
The report, based on interviews and visits to sites in New York, Utah and Virginia, examined the potential pros and cons of siting transmission facilities along existing railroads, highways and natural gas pipelines.
It also assessed the impact of federal involvement in the power line permitting process. Inside newly-formed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors – which currently cover most of New York and 11 other states – the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can approve power line projects that have been denied at the state level. The measure is an effort to fast track investments in the nation’s electricity grid, prompting proposal from companies like NYRI.
“FERC officials told us they expect the review of a transmission line proposal in the national corridors would have little impact on the states’ existing process,” the report claims.
NYRI and several NYRI opponents were not available for comment Sunday or Monday morning.
While it did not offer definitive impacts, the GAO report concluded a series of possible impacts new power lines could create.
It stated that new lines could make wholesale electricity markets more competitive, facilitate electricity sources outside populated center and facilitate development of renewable energy sources.
It also added that if built along transportation right of ways, it could increase the risks of accidents (if there were a train derailment, like recent ones in Oneida and Canastota, or truck accident). Electromagnetic fields created by the lines could also create problems for workers and facilities unless preventative measures are taken, the report says.
While it hasn’t been studied by federal authorities, the report speculated that if a power line were built along a natural gas pipe-line it may make an “attractive” target for a terrorist attack.
NYRI is proposing to build a $1.6 billion power line from Utica to Orange County that would cut through 44 miles of Chenango County.
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