stop the power lines !

There has been so much news happening that we have been falling behind in posting updates on this site.  Here’s the roundup:

"NYRI APPLICATION JUDGED INCOMPLETE" 

First, the biggest news is that the PSC has sent back the NYRI application as incomplete.  This merely serves as a delay, but I will count this as a small victory for us.  At least it shows that the PSC is not going to let NYRI get away with sneaking this through on the cheap.  If they want to try to push this horrible plan, they will have to comply with the guidelines.  The PSC has not yet ruled on the waivers requested by NYRI.  That ruling should come early next month.

Eve Ann Shwartz, co-chair of STOP NYRI, said,

“ This is a tremendous victory for the public good and for all of the citizens of New York who have joined together to expose the NYRI project as all about greed and not about need.

She continues… “ STOP NYRI remains confident that the more NYRI is subjected to public and official scrutiny, th e more reaons will be discovered to reject a project that would devastate our environment, undermine our economy, endanger our families, devalue our property and raise both taxes and electric rates.”

Well said Eve Ann! 

NEW FERC COMMISH A "NO BRAINER"

In other recent news Sen. Bonacic asks a newly appointed FERC commissioner to recuse himself for the NYRI case.  Marc Spitzer, who just took office on July 24, called the NYRI project a “No Brainer”.

 "There is a proposal to bring clean, cheap energy to New York City from Niagara Falls. It's a no-brainer, but there is opposition to the transmission line. New York City is on the cusp of blackouts as we speak."

Oops, sounds like he may have already made up his mind about the project without examining any of the evidence.  And only someone with “no brains” would believe that the NYRI line will do anything to prevent blackouts in Queens caused by  poorly maintained Con Ed wires. 

SUE KELLY EmDo BILL PROPOSED (IN CASE YOU FORGOT) 

We have already mentioned Rep. Sue Kelly’s bill introduced to eliminate the Eminent Domain provisions in sect 1221 of the EPACT 2005.  Sound like a great idea to me, but this will take a lot of work to get it through congress, get a companion bill passed in the Senate, and then get signed it by Bush. It’s OK to dream big.  I’m with Sue on this one. EmDo is a national issue, so maybe we can get the rest of the country involved on this one.  It looks like we could have some support from the folks up in Montana.  Read this from the Missoula Independent 

STATE EmDo IN LimBo

Meanwhile, our brilliant band of State Senators are working out a strategy deciding exactly when the best time will be to get the EmDo bill they passed on to Pataki’s desk.  Are they waiting until after Election Day?   Here is Sen. Libous’ take:

“We’re holding up on sending the legislation to the Governor’s Office,” said Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton), a CO-sponsor of the bill.

“We are still gathering resolutions of support from different localities. When we send the bill we want the Governor to understand that we have 100 percent support against this project.”

Libous said that since enormous pressure is being put on Pataki from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other downstate officials to veto the bill, upstate solidarity is essential. 

Others have reported that the bill is destined to die a slow death.  As reported by John Milgrim of Ottaway News service:

Constituents wanted the project killed and lawmakers were more than happy to satisfy them in an election year, as they approved the measure on the very last day of legislative session.

But power industry officials and policy leaders now say the bill may be destined for a slow death - a fate lawmakers suspected even as they publicly trumpeted the bill's passage."

It wouldn't be the first bill passed with the understanding it was going to be vetoed," said a top Albany insider.

PRESS FINDS NYRI SUPPORTERS
This week the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin has also helped us identify the only upstate NY citizen who is in support of the NYRI project.  The Vestal resident writes about how the NYRI line could be a boon for wind farmers. His letter can be found here: 

Of course, his support is based on misinformation. Here is my response letter to the Bing Press.

 Editor, 

It is apparent that Mr. Cappiello’s support for the NYRI power line is based on misinformation (July 26^th letter). I too am a strong supporter of clean alternative energy sources such as wind power, but the NYRI line will do nothing to promote the use of cleaner energy.   

The NYRI line is about bulk power transmission from Marcy in Oneida County, to New Windsor in Orange County.  This is like a Thruway with no on-ramps or exits. In order for a wind farmer in Broome County to use the line, the power would first have to get to Marcy to ship it downstate.  

Wind farms will also face competition from other more cost efficient generation regardless of how environmentally friendly they are. The line is just as likely to transmit power from new “not so clean” coal plants upstate.  Despite their claims, there is nothing about this project that actually promotes cleaner energy sources.  The only thing “green” about the NYRI project is the money they hope to make at the expense of upstate New Yorkers.  

I left out a response to the ridiculous notion that NYRI’s line is “state of the art”.   Is this guy related to Jonathon Pierce, or just tragically misinformed? 

So much news, so little time.  More to come….