April 9, 2009,  NYRI UPDATE Hinchey Urges FERC to Abandon Efforts

Washington, DC-- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today wrote to Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to reconsider and withdraw its recent petition to reverse a decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that directly impacts FERC's ability to override states in permitting electricity transmission lines.  FERC has appealed the February 2009 Piedmont Environmental Council v. FERC decision, in which the Fourth Circuit ruled FERC had overextended its jurisdiction regarding siting power lines over the objections of states in areas designated as National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors or "National Corridors."  The Court ruled that FERC could not override decisions in cases where state regulatory authorities denied power line applications within a one-year time period, a ruling which had direct and significant impacts on projects such as the recently-withdrawn proposal by New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI.)

Commenting on the letter, Hinchey indicated, "While I am delighted that the citizens of New York State prevailed in stopping the NYRI power line, I remain deeply concerned that FERC has now taken steps to defend and reinstate the broken system and twisted logic that it tried to use to override state decisions on power line projects that are within the boundaries of one state.  Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI) and other groups deserve a great deal of credit for defeating NYRI and for successfully arguing the case before the Fourth Circuit.  FERC should recognize its mistake, withdraw its efforts to overturn that decision and begin to work cooperatively and productively with our state to achieve our common energy goals. Read entire press release here

NYRI ‘suspends’ powerline application

FERC ruling decisive

April, 9, 2009 - ALBANY, NY — In a dramatic and unexpected move, the lawyer for the company that has been seeking permission to build a powerline in the region for more than three years, suddenly said his company was withdrawing its application.

The stunning turn of events came in the midst of a hearing of the New York Public Service Commission (PSC), during which details for the 180-mile proposed line were being examined. The plan, proposed by New York Regional Interconnection (NYRI), was first announced in the spring of 2006. The news of the withdrawal came on April 3.

read the entire River Reporter article here

Public Service Commission says NYRI Powerline decision will come in August

Story Updated: Mar 25, 2009 at 5:07 PM EDT

(WKTV) - The secretary of the State Public Service Commission says the commission will have a decision the first week of August on the Powerline that New York Regional Interconnect wants to put through Central New York.

Multimedia

• Watch The Video

Related Content

• Congressman Arcuri responds to support of NYRI project by 4 congressmen
  
  
• Letter from Congressmen supporting NYRI Power Line project
• NYRI compares its powerline project to recently discussed infrastructure improvements
  
  
• Court ruling on NYRI Power Line a victory...but for whom?
  
  

It was 2006 when NYRI officials first came to Oneida County to meet the public.

In October 2006, Governor George Pataki signs a bill, at SUNYIT, stating the power company can not take land through eminent domain.

In February of 2007, NYRI sued Pataki over the bill.

And just a few months ago, some members of the Public Service Commission suggested that the proposed line does not need to be built, and there is no need for extra power.

The project has been in the hands of the Public Service Commission for almost a year.

When the PSC does make their final decision, they will have three options - approve the project as is, reject the project, or they can modify it.

read complete article here: http://www.wktv.com/news/local/41845967.html

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Visit the EnviroPolitics Blog for More on Catskill Mountainkeeper's Coalition Work on NYRI and NIETCS

The blog for "EnviroPolitics," the daily, electronic newsletter of environmental and political news, legislation, regulations (and more) in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

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Proposed Route for the New York Regional Interconnect Provided by Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI)
	Click on the route map above for a larger image. You may also save the high resolution image to your desktop by right clicking on the image and selecting "Save Target As..".

FROM OUR ALLIES AT STOPNYRI.COM

Go on record: Register your opposition to the NIETC designations before July 6

Why

As you may recall, the DOE recently released their proposal for National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs). Their draft Mid-Atlantic Area NIETC is not a "corridor" at all. It covers most of New York State.

Why does this matter? Under Bush's Energy Policy Act, energy companies that propose projects within NIETCs can appeal to the federal government if the state rejects their project. At the federal level, the merit of these projects will be determined by FERC, a 6-person agency made up of ex-energy executives. NIETC designation provides MAJOR incentive to profiteering companies like NYRI, whose projects are so ill-conceived they probably wouldn't stand a chance at the state level alone.

The DOE held two New York hearings at which the public was allowed to comment on the NIETC proposal: one in New York City, which stands to BENEFIT from the designations, and one in Rochester, which would not be affected. The DOE held NO hearings within ANY of the communities that NYRI has proposed to build its power lines in. Why? We think the DOE is in bed with big energy. We think DOE is trying to stifle the record of opposition.

Don't let them.

If you haven't voiced your opposition to the DOE proposed corridors, you can still give them a piece of your mind--for the record.

How

1. ONLINE
   Click on this link to submit your comments.

2. BY MAIL
   Use this form to create a letter or write your own comments and send them to:

   The Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20
   U.S. Department of Energy
   1000 Independence Avenue SW
   Washington, DC 20585

   Be sure to mark your comments: "Attn: Docket No.2007-OE-01"

3. TELEPHONE
   If you have any questions, or just feel like a nice chat with the government
   agency that's trying to give away your land:
   David Meyer at 202-586-1411

   For legal information:
   Mary Morton (DOE's General Counsel) at 202-586-1221

About the New York Regional Interconnect

New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) proposes to develop, construct, and operate a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line extending from the Edic Substation in the Town of Marcy in Oneida County to the Rock Tavern Substation in the Town of Windsor in Orange County.  The approximate distance of the line is 200 miles.  The HVDC transmission line is proposed to be designed and operated with a rated power flow of 1200 MW at a nominal voltage of ±400 kV DC. NYRI projects commercial operation by 2011 provided that an Article VII certificate and all regulatory approvals are received in time to start construction in 2008. 

Project Status

NYRI has filed an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need with the New York State Public Service Commission for transmission line certification under Article VII of the Public Service Law.  The Staff of the Department of Public Service will update this web link regularly and post new information as it becomes available. Please make use of the information resources that are offered below concerning the NYRI Project and Article VII process.

June 26, 2008 - Letter from Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary

June 5 , 2008 - NYRI Response to March 2004 2008 NYPSC Letter

GAO Report - HDVC Lines along Transportation Row

March 24, 2008 - Notice to Parties
March 24, 2008 - Letter from Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary
February 21, 2008 - Application Filing

For information about the NYRI Article VII application, contact NYRI at www.nyri.us or call them toll-free at 1-877-FYI- NYRI (1-877-394-6974).   The applicant will develop a project mailing list to distribute information and project updates.  You can register on line.  To be added to the mailing list, click here: http://www.nyri.us/menu.html and complete the on-line registration form, then "submit" the form.

NYRI's application has been posted on the company's Web site. NYRI has placed copies of its Article VII application in public libraries along the proposed primary and alternate project routes. For your convenience, we have provided a link to the list of libraries List of libraries from NYRI's Press Release.

 On July 26, 2006, the Secretary notified NYRI of deficiencies in their Application (see Related Documents and Filings - Letters).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:
September 10, 2008                              Marion Read (Arcuri): 202 225-3665

Jeff Lieberson (Hinchey): 202-225-1265

                                                                        Meaghan Smith (Hall):202-225-5441
                                                            

UPSTATE CONGRESSMEN DEMAND THE TRUTH BEHIND NYRI’S CONGESTION CLAIMS

Arcuri, Hinchey and Hall Ask for Answers in 2009 Congestion Study

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica), Maurice Hinchey (D- Hurley) and John Hall (D-Dover Plains) asked the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today to include comprehensive assessments of energy congestion outside of New York City when they update the National Electric Transmission Congestion Study next year, so this information can be used in consideration of any new transmission projects that claim to reduce congestion, such as the one proposed by New York Regional Interconnection (NYRI). 

“NYRI continues to push the same poorly planned project that will destroy local communities up and down the route with no proof that congestion would decrease or New York City’s energy problems would be solved,” Arcuri said. “The information we are asking the DOE to include in its congestion study will directly contradict NYRI’s claims that the project will relieve congestion and will show that the proposed project will not get more power to New York City. By the DOE’s own measures of congestion into New York City, NYRI’s blind attempt to run roughshod over local property owners will do nothing.”

“From the start of this whole NYRI debate it has been very clear that information was being manipulated to benefit the Bush administration’s friends in the energy industry,” Hinchey said. “Claims that New York City’s power supply is in dire need of new transmission lines are being dramatically overstated so that a Canadian-based company can make enormous sums of money at the expense of millions of upstate New York residents who would have power lines cutting through their backyards and towering over their neighborhoods. This report will give us further evidence that the NYRI project must be stopped once and for all.”

“NYRI has never demonstrated that its power line will benefit anyone but its foreign investors,” said Hall. “NYRI must prove that it is absolutely necessary before a massive, 200 mile long high voltage direct current line steamrolls over local property rights, state authority and environmentally sensitive areas.”

In their letter, the Congressmen requested that the DOE’s 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study include a detailed analysis of congestion chokepoints in the Lower Hudson Valley and Westchester County in New York, as identified in DOE’s 2006 Congestion Study, that might prevent or inhibit future improvements in transmission capacity, such as NYRI’s proposed power line, from reaching consumers in New York City.

 “This information will be instrumental in evaluating future proposals for new transmission projects to reduce congestion within the Mid-Atlantic NIETC and should be completed before any projects are considered,” wrote Arcuri, Hinchey and Hall to Mr. David Meyer of the Department of Energy. “To do otherwise would risk granting authority for a project that does nothing to address New York State’s congestion problem.”

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) required the DOE to conduct a survey of transmission congestion nationwide and issue a National Electric Transmission Congestion Study.  The information in the 2006 congestion study was the precursor to DOE designating 47 counties in New York State as part of the Mid-Atlantic National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. The DOE is required to update the congestion study every three years.  EPAct 2005 is the same law that allows NYRI to apply to federal regulators for project approval after their application has been pending before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for more than one year, or if the PSC ultimately denies the application. 

The text of the letter is attached below:

September 10, 2008

Mr. David Meyer
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585

Re: 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study

Dear Mr. Meyer:

As the Department of Energy (DOE) begins to formulate the process and congestion metrics for the 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study (Congestion Study), we request that the study include a detailed analysis of congestion chokepoints in the Lower Hudson Valley and Westchester County in New York, as identified in the 2006 Congestion Study that might prevent or inhibit future improvements in transmission capacity from reaching consumers in New York City.

The 2006 Congestion Study concluded that “Southeastern New York also needs improved voltage support that will require transmission reinforcements in the Lower Hudson Valley, more generation and demand-side management.”  Specifically, the study identified serious constraints on transmission existing at the UPNY-ConEd Interface, between Westchester County and New York City, and between Westchester County and Long Island.

It is our hope that DOE will include a detailed description of the extent of electric transmission constraints through these points, including the amount of unused capacity during normal, peak and emergency conditions, in its 2009 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study.  This information will be instrumental in evaluating future proposals for new transmission projects to reduce congestion within the Mid-Atlantic NIETC and should be completed before any projects are considered.  To do otherwise would risk granting authority for a project that does nothing to address New York State’s congestion problem.

Thank you for considering our request to include this information in the Department’s 2009 Congestion Study. 

Sincerely,

MAURICE D. HINCHEY              MICHAEL A. ARCURI       JOHN HALL
Member of Congress                      Member of Congress              Member of Congress

###

-------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Lieberson
Administrative Assistant/Communications Director
Office of Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY22)
202-225-6335 (office)
202-225-1265 (direct)
202-225-0817 (cell)
jeff.lieberson@mail.house.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Public involvement and input are important to the Commission in all Article VII cases. Department staff is available if assistance is needed.  For further information on the Article VII process or on specific Article VII cases, you may:

Obtain information about the Article VII process:

The Department of Public Service has prepared a booklet that explains the Article VII siting process. The Article VII Process Guide is available on line: http://www.dps.state.ny.us/Article_VII_Process_Guide.pdf  
The Article VII Process Flow Chart is separate from the guide and is available on line: http://www.dps.state.ny.us/Article_VII_Flow_Chart.pdf.
If you would like to have copies of this guide mailed to you, contact us via email at: PSC Comment Form or call the Article VII toll-free Information Line at: 1-877-772-7289.

Please refer to the Article VII Process Guide for information on becoming an Active Party in the NYRI Article VII Proceeding.

Request your name be added to a service list to receive copies of orders, notices and rulings or submit a formal written statement by writing to:

Request information regarding the NYRI proposal or to learn more about how to participate in the NYRI project review: 

Contact the Department of Public Service:

For general information, call the Article VII toll-free Information Line at:
1-877-772-2789 or click here: PSC Comment Form

Many libraries offer free Internet access.  Comments are downloaded regularly and should reference the Article VII case number assigned to the application.

COPIES OF THE APPLICATION AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
The application and other documents, such as testimony, submittals, and hearing transcripts regarding the NYRI proposal are available for inspection, as they are filed, at the following location:

The application and other documents may be copied.  Visitors to the Central Files Unit should be prepared to show valid photo identification.

Related Documents and Filings:

• All Commission Documents for Case 06-T-0650
  • Active Parties List
  • Letters
  • Notices
  • Orders
  • Rulings
• Letters and Comments for Case 06-T-0650
  • NYS Attorney General (56 kb)
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (24 kb)
  • NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation to Leonard Singer (82 kb)

You may need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.

DISCLAIMER: Although a link is provided to the Web site for the New York Regional Interconnect, Inc., such a link is provided for the benefit of the public. The Public Service Commission is not responsible for the contents or the maintenance of this Web site.