News Archive - July 2006
Monday July 31, 2006
AUDIO from WRVO Radio:
New York State Assemblywoman speaks out against controversial power line project.
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Concrete opposition
In a recent issue of the Courier a short article reported on regional opposition to the proposed 200 mile power line.
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Sunday July 30, 2006
CNY takes on power line plan
It started as back-roads rumors in tiny hamlets, where cows outnumber people, stoplights are unusual and general stores spread news like modern town criers.
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Saturday July 29, 2006
Power Line Is Delayed Amid Gaps in Application
A controversial plan to build a 190-mile-long high-voltage power line through upstate New York, skirting the scenic Upper Delaware River, has been temporarily put on hold because the developer’s application is incomplete.
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Friday July 28, 2006
NYRI's power-line application deemed incomplete
The application by New York Regional Interconnect Inc. to construct a 200-mile-long power line has been deemed incomplete in several ways by the state’s Public Service Commission.
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Bill to block eminent domain not dead
A bill that could block the New York Regional Interconnect Inc.'s ability to use eminent domain is not dead, legislators say, but rather tactfully awaiting release.
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Energy meeting
Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, D-Rome, said the Assembly's Standing Committee on Energy plans a hearing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the SUNY Institute of Technology to study New York Regional Interconnection's power line proposal through the region.
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Explore other options for power line
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has called New York Regional Interconnect's power line application "significantly deficient," largely because NYRI doesn't consider alternative routes that would be less damaging to environment — not to mention the host communities.
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From NPR Radio, Living On Earth: "Not in My Skyline"
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Thursday July 27, 2006
State agency: More power line information needed
The state Public Service Commission has ruled that New York Regional Interconnect's application to put a power line from Marcy to the Lower Hudson Valley is incomplete, and its formal review process cannot begin until more information is provided.
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State wants added details of NYRI plan
State regulators gave the New York Regional Interconnect power line project an "I" for "incomplete" yesterday and asked developers to provide more details about the plan.
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Federal official in hot water with Bonacic
A newly appointed commissioner to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is in hot water with one state senator and two U.S. senators because he apparently favors New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s power-line proposal.
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Staying on the line: NYRI developments
New York State Senator John Bonacic urged U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton to help him force a new member of the Federal Emergency Regulatory Commission (FERC) to recuse himself on matters relating to the NRYI power lines.
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NYRI addressed in Washington
Representative Sue Kelly, whose district includes Orange County, NY, introduced legislation in Congress last week that would close what she calls a "loophole in national energy law".
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Wednesday July 26, 2006
Power-line bill quietly ignored
Sometimes in the world of state government political trickery, bills passed in the Legislature are not all they appear to be.
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Pataki should urge Senate to act on power plant law
As chairman of the Assembly Committee on Energy, I am responding to your July 19 story "Energy firms: Power plants needed."
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Bloomburg has no position on power line
When it comes to the proposed 180-mile power line through upstate counties, New York City mayor Michael Bloomburg is reserving judgment, for now.
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Calhoun joins anti-NYRI campaign
Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun of Blooming Grove has announced her opposition to a plan by NYRI to construct a 200 mile long power line from Marcy to New Windsor.
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Tuesday July 25, 2006
Power line application 'deficient'
State Department of Environmental Conservation officials have told the Public Service Commission that the proposed New York Regional Interconnection power line application is "significantly deficient."
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Local officials rap NYRI plan
Congresswoman Sue Kelly, Orange County Executive Edward Diana and New Windsor Town Supervisor George Green Monday stood at the Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation power station in Rock Tavern and condemned New York Regional Interconnect’s proposed plan.
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DEC: NYRI Application Insufficient
Officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation have some serious concerns about an Albany firm's application to the Public Service Commission to build a power line through central New York.
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Sunday July 23, 2006
100 rally against power line plan
Braving heavy rain and flash flood warnings, more than 100 protesters gathered Saturday in the village of Sherburne to rally against a power line project.
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Saturday July 22, 2006
Boehlert: Power line not priority for Energy Dept.
U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert said federal Department of Energy officials have told him the proposal for a high-voltage power line that would cut through the Mohawk Valley wasn't an agency priority.
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Power line gets downstate opponent
A downstate congresswoman has proposed legislation that would prevent privately owned power companies from using eminent domain under the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005.
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Friday July 21, 2006
Stop NYRI rally scheduled tomorrow
Village of Sherburne residents say they stand to lose a great deal if New York Regional Inc.’s power line is constructed; that’s why they’re standing together.
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Thursday July 20, 2006
Could sparks fly with NYRI and gas lines?
Can a high-voltage power line and a high-pressure natural gas line share the same space without electrifying consequences?
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Wednesday July 19, 2006
Kelly starts bill to fight power lines
Hoping to block the controversial New York Regional Interconnect power line project, U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, introduced a bill yesterday that would rescind a provision of last year's Energy Policy Act.
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Anti-power line group hires law firm
Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI), a group of politicians and activists that has come together to fight the power line project in New York State, has hired a law firm to represent them in the permitting process before the New York Public Service Commission.
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Tuesday July 18, 2006
Critics challenge NYRI plan
Hundreds of people who turned out for a hearing Monday night in New Hartford heard testimony about several controversial issues surrounding a proposed power line stretching from Utica to Orange County.
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Power line's impact on rates debated
Who would pay more and why if a new power line is built from Marcy to New Windsor became a central question at a legislative hearing Monday night on the project.
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Power Line Plans Draw More Protest
The private company that wants to build a 200-mile long high voltage power line through Central New York met more outrage Monday night, this time from people who live in New Hartford.
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Power Lines Project Hearing
Hundreds of people protested the power lines proposal Monday night at a public meeting in New Hartford.
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NYRI hearing: Hot night, hot issue
"It’s a hot night – to deal with a hot issue," said Senator James Seward (R- Milford), in his opening statement during Monday night’s legislative hearing regarding New York Regional Interconnect Inc., at New Hartford High School.
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Power Line Fight
The New Hartford community is rallying together against a proposed power line in the area.
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Video conference power line rally gets low ratings, but passions remain high
Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Chris Cunningham and county Planning Commissioner Dr. William Pammer were not discouraged that only a small handful of people showed up at the two locations to view their latest presentation opposing the New York Regional Interconnect power line.
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Monday July 17, 2006
Senate holds NYRI's feet to fire at New Hartford hearing tonight
Some politicians are hoping that citizens further up the line will create more energy against New York Regional Interconnect Inc. tonight, thus proving the grassroots grid of communities is already reliable, and powerful.
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Key power line hearing tonight
Local residents will have the chance to hear officials from New York Regional Interconnect power company grilled by members of the state Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee tonight.
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Griffo offers option in power line fight
Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo said he is encouraging the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency to consider the possibility of condemning the air rights above the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad as a possible road block to the New York Regional Interconnection power line.
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Powerline Fight Heats Up
A group of concerned citizens have banded together to fight a power line company.
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Power Line Hearing Scheduled
Four area senators that make up the NYS energy committee questioned New York regional interconnect and the public service commission, two components in this power line project.
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Sunday July 16, 2006
Unity against NYRI - Meeting draws statewide participants
They drove up from Otisville and Cochecton, past villages, mountains and valleys that would be sliced by the 120-foot-tall power lines.
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Bloomberg's call for veto out of line
AT ISSUE: An energy plan, not NYRI power line, needed for N.Y.
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Friday July 14, 2006
Power-line plan hits another snag
U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has come out with her strongest statement yet against the proposed New York Regional Interconnection power line.
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NYRI still unclear on railroad rights
Apparently, as New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s project goes, so does their assumed ownership of development rights on railroad access.
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Senators criticize power line plans
Already on the ropes in Albany, the developers who want to build a high-voltage power line across much of New York now face heavyweight opposition in Washington.
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Meeting Scheduled To Discuss the Proposed Power Line Project
The public is invited to attend a state senate hearing on the proposed power line project. The hearing will be held on Monday from 6 PM – 9 PM at the New Hartford High School auditorium.
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Thursday July 13, 2006
Clinton opposes federal power-line designation
U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., expressed concerns about the New York Regional Interconnect power-line plan today as the called on the federal government to reject the company's proposal for a special power-line transmission corridor designation.
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New York senators call on Energy Department to reject NYRI application for "national interest" transmission line
Senator Hillary Clinton Thursday urged the U.S. Department of Energy to reject the application of New York Regional Interconnection, Inc. to be designated as a "National Interest Electric Corridor."
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Senator Clinton Calls On DOE To Reject NYRI Application
In a letter to the energy secretary, Senator Clinton says she opposes NYRI's attempt to use eminent domain in order to build the power lines.
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Wednesday July 12, 2006
Power line sparks state/federal battle
The controversial power line that would carry electricity from Oneida County to the lower Hudson Valley is more than another high voltage dispute between upstate/downstate interests.
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Utica puts 1-year moratorium on new power lines
Utica Mayor Tim Julian signed a local law Tuesday that places a one-year moratorium on the construction of power lines in the city, the latest effort to halt a proposed 200-mile power distribution line.
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Power-line protestation - New Windsor crowd backs pulling plug on NYRI
More than 900 folks blasted it in the western Orange County Village of Otisville. A crowd of 450 hammered it in the Delaware River hamlet of Callicoon.
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Tuesday July 11, 2006
Power line meeting in Orange County tonight
New York Regional Interconnect Inc. was not invited to tonight’s power line hearing in Orange County, so the "hot seat" may be substantially cooler than the searing posterior settlements created at earlier question and answer sessions regarding the $1.6 billion project.
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Mayor OKs power line ban
Mayor Timothy Julian signed a local law this morning placing a one-year moratorium on the construction of a 200-mile power line that would cut through South Utica.
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Bloomberg: Explore power line benefits
The tension between upstate and downstate New Yorkers over a proposed high-voltage power line that would begin in Marcy just heated up a few degrees.
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Central New Yorkers Continuing to Fight the Power Line Project
No one in attendance opposed a local law that would prevent construction of the power line. However, they were quite passionate about their opposition to the power line.
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Monday July 10, 2006
Proposed Upstate Power Lines - Danger, Not Wanted!
Editorial from a monthly newspaper that gets hand delivered to all NYS politicians in Albany.
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Click here to read the full publication. (10MB .pdf file)
Chafing at a Plan to Add Power Lines to the Landscape
When Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the debate focused on ways to expand energy production to meet broad national needs.
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At end of 5K run, candidates criticize power-line proposal
Protesters who gathered near the start of the Boilermaker 5K Training Run got their wish Sunday: New York's two front-running gubernatorial candidates expressed doubts about the proposed New York Regional Interconnection power line soon after they crossed the finish line.
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Oppose the NYRI
My greatest concern is the link between these huge power lines and childhood cancer. One of NYRI’s proposed routes comes very close to our property here in Cochecton Center, NY.
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Sunday July 9, 2006
Gubernatorial hopefuls express concerns for power-line proposal during race
New York’s two gubernatorial candidates expressed skepticism about a proposed high-voltage power line that would run through the area as they participated this morning in the Boilermaker 5K Training Run.
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Saturday July 8, 2006
Spitzer, Faso to face power-line protesters
Opponents of the New York Regional Interconnect power line will be out in force Sunday morning to watch gubernatorial candidates Eliot Spitzer and John Faso in the Boilermaker 5K Training Run.
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Let's show Spitzer some real energy
Among those expected to be in town this weekend for Boilermaker festivities will be State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who plans to run the 5K training run.
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Friday July 7, 2006
Does NYRI have access to railroad rights-of-way or not
A power line waiting to slide down 200 miles of Upstate New York has not yet legally secured the first leg of its trail, officials said.
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Thursday July 6, 2006
NYRI, lobbyist part ways
An official from New York Regional Interconnect Inc. confirmed this morning that only a few weeks after hiring high-powered lobbyist Patricia Lynch, their $180k contract with her Albany-based firm was canceled.
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200 demonstrate against power line
Cuddebackville - This was no festival. Even though a live band played in the background, 200 people ate brownies, slipped slushes and chatted as the sun slowly dipped behind the tall trees last night.
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Upper Delaware Valley Greenway passed by NY legislature
The New York Senate and the Assembly last week passed two bills introduced by Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther to establish the Upper Delaware River Valley Greenway.
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Wednesday July 5, 2006
Children oppose power line near ball fields
A group of children posed for a photo beneath a banner opposing the New York Regional Interconnect power line as a way to show their opinion about the proposal.
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Larkin holds information meeting on NYRI power line proposal
State Senator William Larkin will conduct a public meeting on the evening of Tuesday, July 11 in New Windsor to brief the public on New York Regional Interconnect’s proposal to construct a 1200 megawatt power line from Oneida County to Orange County.
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Tuesday July 4, 2006
Rapp: Keep fighting power line; Stark says Alteren stalled
"Keep resisting it." That’s the message Norwich-native and former New York State Assembly Minority Leader Clarence D. Rappleyea has for people opposing the 200-mile long, $1.6 billion high voltage electricity line that threatens to scar Chenango County’s beauty and drive up local energy costs.
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Monday July 3, 2006
NYRI opposition hires legal reps
After several weeks of pre-viewing candidates, Communities Against Regional Interconnect has picked out its dream team to help battle New York Regional Interconnect Inc.
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Act on laws critical to NYRI fight
n the flurry of bills passed at the end of this legislative session was a law that is critical to our area's ongoing fight against a proposed high-voltage power line from Marcy to the lower Hudson Valley.
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Sunday July 2, 2006
Stay the course
With Independence Day coming up, we feel this is a good time to remind our readers of the importance of staying the course.
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