Stopping the NYRI Power Line Proposal

As the result of a provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) now has the authority to designate "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors" (NIETCs). When a part of the country receives a NIETC designation, the federal government is then allowed under certain conditions to overrule local and state objections to proposed power line projects, issue construction permits to energy companies, and grant the use of eminent domain authority, which would allow for the seizure of private property from unwilling owners in order to develop those power lines.

In April 2007, the Department of Energy proposed two NIETC designations in the United States, including one in eastern part of the country that includes 47 counties in New York. The proposed NIETC designation for much of New York threatens to pave the way for the permitting and construction of New York Regional Interconnection's (NYRI) proposal of a nearly 200-mile power line that would cut through dozens of communities and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Congressman Hinchey, who strongly opposed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is aggressively working in Washington, DC to block any NIETC designations and protect the people of New York and other states from having massive power line projects forced on their communities.

The proposed NIETC designations, which cover 11 states and the District of Columbia, are currently undergoing a 60 day public review process in which anyone can submit their comments to the Department of Energy on the matter. In addition to personally opposing the proposed designations at a recent Department of Energy hearing in Virginia, Hinchey also expressed his strong frustration to the agency over its failure to hold any public hearings on the proposed NIETC designations in the parts of New York that would be directly affected by the NYRI proposal. The Department only scheduled public hearings in New York City and Rochester.

In light of the Department of Energy's failure to schedule any local public hearings, Congressman Hinchey held his own public meeting on June 9, 2007 in Lake Huntington, New York (Town of Cochecton). Hinchey invited officials from the DOE to attend, but they declined. The congressman also arranged for a stenographer to attend the hearing so that all comments from the public would be recorded and submitted to the DOE for the agency's consideration. Additionally, the congressman collected written testimony that the public submitted at the June 9 event and will soon deliver that testimony to the DOE's headquarters in Washington, DC. (To continue reading about Congressman Hinchey's efforts to stop the NYRI power line proposal from going through, including information on legislation he has introduced...Click Here)

Upstate NY Citizens Alliance -- www.upstatenycitizensalliance.com