Here & There Column 5-15-07

Our Power Line Warning Has Come True

Several months ago when everything looked calm and peaceful in the joint effort to fight a power line proposal by New York Regional Interconnect we issued the warning that this fight was far from being over and that a bitter fight to keep this all from becoming a reality would soon have to take place.
Well out of the slinky corridors of the federal government came the announcement that the US Department of Energy's proposal for two National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor includes the New York Regional Interconnect plan.
Under the US Department of Energy's plan the DOE could allow the federal government to usurp state authority for siting electric transmission lines and could force the development of power line projects in cases where states have said they don't want them.
That designation would also allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to permit private corporations to use federal eminent domain powers to seize private property in order to develop those power lines.
In the case of New York Regional Interconnect, it's a power line proposed that lies entirely in the State of New York and while it doesn't even cross a boundary it is then not subject to interstate commerce clauses.
The battle to stop the eminent domain plans is underway but strong measures are needed or the DOE will get their way.
We applaud the Sullivan County legislature for budgeting another $50,000 to continue the fight against the proposed new power line. The County of Sullivan is part of the CARI consortium Committee Against Regional Interconnect.
Sullivan County must do its part to stop the New York Regional Interconnect from becoming a reality and so the spending of this money just makes common sense.
There is an eight-county group that is working to block the power line that if constructed would run from Onieda County to Orange County.
Sullivan County's Congressman Maurice Hinchey is leading this fight in Washington and House members are seeking legislative language that prohibits the DOE from using any money to make these designations. Hinchey wants legislation that would stop the eminent domain provision and block National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designations.
We strongly support Hinchey's request for a follow up congressional hearing and a US Department of Energy public hearing in upstate New York which would address concerns about this proposed project.
There should be local public hearings in upstate New York and pressure should be put on the Office of Electricity and Energy Reliability to conduct public hearings during the 60-day public comment period.