Cuomo: Energy corridors are illegal, detrimental to upstate
ALBANY – The state’s Attorney General filed a legal challenge Monday in Manhattan requesting that the court review the federal government’s National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor policy, according to an announcement made Tuesday.
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s challenge, filed in the United States 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, is in response to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent decision to deny requests made by corridor opponents to re-examine the issue.
Cuomo claims the DOE’s policy, implemented in October 2007, was created illegally and could be detrimental for upstate residents living near the proposed $2.1 billion New York Regional Interconnect power line.
Inside the two National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, which cover all or part of 10 eastern and western states, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can take over what’s historically been a state’s authority to approve or deny power lines. It’s an effort to speed up transmission investments in areas the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has deemed “critically” energy congested, federal energy officials have said.
The entire length of the 190-mile-long New York Regional Interconnect power line, which would run through 44 miles of Chenango County, is located inside what’s called the “Mid-Atlantic” Corridor.
“A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Energy would subject major regions of New York State to the development of massive electric transmission lines – including the proposed 200-mile long NYRI line over the state’s objections,” states Cuomo in a Tuesday press release. “The DOE’s action was taken without proper environmental review and could harm residences, businesses and natural resources in the region of the proposed NYRI line.”
He added: “DOE’s action is illegal and through this challenge, I will continue the fight to protect homeowners and the environment in New York and New York’s right to make its own energy siting decisions.”
NYRI officials say they have no intention of circumventing the state process, administered by the New York state Public Service Commission.
“As NYRI has said repeatedly, we prefer the New York State regulatory (Article VII) process and have been actively engaged in that process for more than two years,” said NYRI spokesman David Kalson Wednesday. “All we ask is that our project, designed to benefit all New Yorkers with more reliable power, lower energy prices and increased use of clean, renewable power sources, be judged on its merits.”
Kalson said the corridors are only used as a “backstop” if states fail to address what he says is a “widely recognized problem of deteriorated electrical infrastructures” that could cause large blackouts.
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s challenge, filed in the United States 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, is in response to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent decision to deny requests made by corridor opponents to re-examine the issue.
Cuomo claims the DOE’s policy, implemented in October 2007, was created illegally and could be detrimental for upstate residents living near the proposed $2.1 billion New York Regional Interconnect power line.
Inside the two National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, which cover all or part of 10 eastern and western states, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can take over what’s historically been a state’s authority to approve or deny power lines. It’s an effort to speed up transmission investments in areas the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has deemed “critically” energy congested, federal energy officials have said.
The entire length of the 190-mile-long New York Regional Interconnect power line, which would run through 44 miles of Chenango County, is located inside what’s called the “Mid-Atlantic” Corridor.
“A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Energy would subject major regions of New York State to the development of massive electric transmission lines – including the proposed 200-mile long NYRI line over the state’s objections,” states Cuomo in a Tuesday press release. “The DOE’s action was taken without proper environmental review and could harm residences, businesses and natural resources in the region of the proposed NYRI line.”
He added: “DOE’s action is illegal and through this challenge, I will continue the fight to protect homeowners and the environment in New York and New York’s right to make its own energy siting decisions.”
NYRI officials say they have no intention of circumventing the state process, administered by the New York state Public Service Commission.
“As NYRI has said repeatedly, we prefer the New York State regulatory (Article VII) process and have been actively engaged in that process for more than two years,” said NYRI spokesman David Kalson Wednesday. “All we ask is that our project, designed to benefit all New Yorkers with more reliable power, lower energy prices and increased use of clean, renewable power sources, be judged on its merits.”
Kalson said the corridors are only used as a “backstop” if states fail to address what he says is a “widely recognized problem of deteriorated electrical infrastructures” that could cause large blackouts.
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