The Bush Administration's announcement this week that it is creating two massive corridors where electric-transmission lines could be placed over the objections of states was lauded by NYRI and criticized by opponents, including two Otsego County representatives.
Called National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, one is situated in the Southwest and the other in Northeast, including parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, all of New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia.
Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties are among 47 New York counties in the eastern transmission line corridor, which includes about three-quarters of the state.
Within the corridor, investors may propose building transmission lines and the plans can be approved by the federal Department of Energy if state agencies do not approve them within one year.
In announcing this expansion of federal power, DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman stated, ``The goal is simple, to keep reliable supplies of electric energy flowing to all Americans. By designating these national corridors, we are encouraging stakeholders in these regions to identify solutions and take prompt action.''
Otsego County Rep. Donald Lindberg, R-Worcester, said he opposes the NIETC for Otsego County.
``I think it's ridiculous,'' the board chairman said. ``Whatever happened to home rule?''
The New York Regional Interconnection proposal is a 200-mile-long, 400,000-volt power line that investors plan to build from Marcy in Oneida County to New Windsor in Orange County.
The firm, New York Regional Interconnect Inc. has signed a contract with the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway of Cooperstown to run its line from Oneida County to just north of Norwich. The line would then follow a right-of-way belonging to the New York State Electric & Gas Corp. across Chenango County into Delaware County.
On Friday, a spokesman for the firm, David Kalson, e-mailed The Daily Star, stating that in NYRI's view, ``The DOE designations represent an important step in encouraging modernization of New York State's transmission infrastructure that will increase reliability and efficiency, and make possible greater use of clean, renewable energy sources.''
The DOE's decision will ``encourage states like New York to identify solutions and take action against the pressing problem of transmission congestion,'' he wrote.
Kalson noted that states have primary responsibility for siting lines, and the federal government only becomes involved if state agencies don't approve proposals.
``Federal, state and private sector studies all show a congestion problem in New York state that causes serious economic impacts for millions of consumers,'' Kalson said.
Last month, the New York Independent Systems Operator noted that NYRI could help deliver more electricity to downstate New York, but the agency also found that there are proposals that would cost ratepayers less.
Chris Rossi, co-chairwoman of Stop NYRI, Inc., also sent an e-mail to The Daily Star. In it, she wrote approval of the corridor plan does not mean that NYRI will be built.
``By creating NIET Corridors, the federal government will be able to usurp states' rights to regulate what goes on within their boundaries,'' she wrote. ``They will be able take your property by eminent domain; destroy recreational, cultural and historic sites throughout New York; and subvert New York state's progressive energy policies.''
Rossi said that power plants should be situated closer to the people who will consume the power.
Dr. Glenn Stein of Norwich, a NYRI opponent who criticizes the plan at Stop NYRI Inc.'s website, said Friday that the administration's decision is ``disappointing but not surprising.''
Republicans, who have traditionally favored states' rights, have an administration that is stripping them away, he said.
Sue Evans of Norwich, whose family's farm would have the 115-foot-high towers running through it if NYRI is built, said it's difficult for citizens to get information about the health effects of power lines.
``I'm mostly worried about what it would do to my children's health,'' she said.
Otsego County Rep. James Powers, R-Butternuts, said the federal decision is another indication of how state and federal governments are divorced from the will of the people.
``When I ran for the state Assembly last year and saw the power of big money,'' he said, ``it made me wonder if people have any control over their government at all.''
