NYRI: Chenango County pulls out of CARI
NORWICH – Last week, just days after New York Regional Interconnect officially pulled the application for its controversial electric transmission line project, Chenango County made the decision to withdraw from Communities Against Regional Interconnect, the coalition of seven counties and five community action groups which spearheaded the fight against NYRI.
“We’re very appreciative of the fight that was put forward by CARI,” said Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Richard Decker, R-N. Norwich.
On Monday, April 6, NYRI filed a letter with the New York State Public Service Commission officially withdrawing its Article VII application. By mid-week, the county had exercised a clause in their agreement with CARI which allowed them to pull out of the grassroots organization.
“It was a good fight,” Decker said. “Now it is time to move on.”
While some may see pulling out of the organization as premature, CARI’s local representative, Chenango County Planning Director Donna M. Jones, said it is being done “to protect the county’s interests.”
To date, the county has contributed $150,000 to the coalition to help fund the legal battle against the power line project. According to Decker, there is an outstanding request from CARI for an additional $55,000.
“Although the county is pulling out of CARI we are not skirting our financial responsibilities,” said Jones, who explained that the county would like to see an accounting of the organization’s outstanding expenses before additional payments are made.
“When a final accounting has been completed, what we would like to see happen is all the counties split the final bill evenly,” she explained.
According to Decker, Broome County has also withdrawn from the organization, and he believes others with follow.
“It’s over,” he reiterated. “It’s time to move on.”
Others, including Congressman Michael Arcuri and Senator Charles Schumer aren’t so sure.
“I’m still not 100 percent convinced. We can’t let our guard down,” Arcuri said during his visit to Norwich on Monday.
While he is “cautiously optimistic,” the congressman said, he isn’t ruling out a resurgence by NYRI. “I’ve seen it happen from them before,” he said.
Arcuri reported that at his behest, the chairman of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, recently sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee stating his opposition to NYRI. He will continue working against NYRI and similar projects in Washington, he said.
Schumer is taking steps to ensure similar projects aren’t allowed to “run roughshod” over upstate New Yorkers. The senator has vowed to introduce legislation in the Senate which would close the FERC loophole, which could have allowed NYRI to circumvent the PSC if the state failed to reach a decision on a project within one year of its application. It would also give states the right to veto decisions by FERC regarding the sighting of transmission lines.
Decker remains firm that the decision to withdraw from CARI was in the best interest of the county. If NYRI raises its ugly head once more, or if another similar project surfaces which poses a threat to Chenango County, the county will take action again.
“We can start the fight over,” said Decker.
“We’re very appreciative of the fight that was put forward by CARI,” said Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Richard Decker, R-N. Norwich.
On Monday, April 6, NYRI filed a letter with the New York State Public Service Commission officially withdrawing its Article VII application. By mid-week, the county had exercised a clause in their agreement with CARI which allowed them to pull out of the grassroots organization.
“It was a good fight,” Decker said. “Now it is time to move on.”
While some may see pulling out of the organization as premature, CARI’s local representative, Chenango County Planning Director Donna M. Jones, said it is being done “to protect the county’s interests.”
To date, the county has contributed $150,000 to the coalition to help fund the legal battle against the power line project. According to Decker, there is an outstanding request from CARI for an additional $55,000.
“Although the county is pulling out of CARI we are not skirting our financial responsibilities,” said Jones, who explained that the county would like to see an accounting of the organization’s outstanding expenses before additional payments are made.
“When a final accounting has been completed, what we would like to see happen is all the counties split the final bill evenly,” she explained.
According to Decker, Broome County has also withdrawn from the organization, and he believes others with follow.
“It’s over,” he reiterated. “It’s time to move on.”
Others, including Congressman Michael Arcuri and Senator Charles Schumer aren’t so sure.
“I’m still not 100 percent convinced. We can’t let our guard down,” Arcuri said during his visit to Norwich on Monday.
While he is “cautiously optimistic,” the congressman said, he isn’t ruling out a resurgence by NYRI. “I’ve seen it happen from them before,” he said.
Arcuri reported that at his behest, the chairman of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, recently sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee stating his opposition to NYRI. He will continue working against NYRI and similar projects in Washington, he said.
Schumer is taking steps to ensure similar projects aren’t allowed to “run roughshod” over upstate New Yorkers. The senator has vowed to introduce legislation in the Senate which would close the FERC loophole, which could have allowed NYRI to circumvent the PSC if the state failed to reach a decision on a project within one year of its application. It would also give states the right to veto decisions by FERC regarding the sighting of transmission lines.
Decker remains firm that the decision to withdraw from CARI was in the best interest of the county. If NYRI raises its ugly head once more, or if another similar project surfaces which poses a threat to Chenango County, the county will take action again.
“We can start the fight over,” said Decker.
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