Citizens Campaign for the Environment

CAMPAIGNS

Energy Transmission

Image of the Mid Atlantic Corridor Choosing how energy is delivered to meet demand is a critically important environmental, economic and public policy decision. CCE supports conserving and diversifying energy, while protecting public and environmentally sensitive lands.

New York State is facing two challenges regarding new electricity transmission infrastructure. The first is a new 200-mile proposed transmission line cutting through New York State from Marcy in Oneida County to Windsor in Orange County by New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI).

Second, the U.S. Department of Energy designated New York as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. The NIETC designation allows the federal government to usurps local and state authority to site and regulate electricity transmission projects. New electric transmission line construction can threaten public lands and environmentally sensitive areas and saddle New York State to large centralized energy production from polluting fossil fuels and expensive nuclear power. Public involvement, local and state oversight, and rigorous environmental reviews are critical to protecting the environment and propelling a sustainable energy future. Now is the time for New Yorkers to take their energy future in their own hands.

NYRI Transmission Line

Intended to address energy transmission congestion and constraint for downstate New York, the proposed New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) line transport electricity generated in Upstate New York. The NYRI proposal is 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 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.

A host of concerns exist with the NYRI proposal:

Building new a transmission line significantly impacts affected communities and the local environment like the Delaware River and the Mongaup Wildlife Management Area.
The first step to address energy congestion and constraint is to increase energy efficiency and conservation.
The NYRI proposal will do nothing to upgrade and improve existing transmission lines.
Long distance electricity transmission can result in loses up to 15%, which decreases the efficiency of new large transmission lines. Generating electricity in proximity to demand is more efficient and promotes sustainable electricity solutions, like solar power that is uniquely able to meet peak demand.

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) accepted the application of New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) for certificate of environmental compatibility and public need pursuant to Article 7 of the public service law. The PSC is conducting public hearings throughout October and early November. The public comment period will last through March 2009 and the PSC will conduct another series of public hearings in March 2009.

CCE opposes the PSC granting the NYRI Transmission line a certificate for environmental compatibility and public need because the new line threatens public lands and environmentally sensitive areas like the Delaware River and the Mongaup Wildlife Management Area while shackling New Yorkers to more inefficient long-distance transmission, an energy past of large centralized fossil fuel power plants, and does nothing to advance New York’s energy future valuing energy conservation, efficiency and local energy generation.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Attend a public hearing, write the PSC, call the PSC or submit comments online
Tell the PSC you oppose granting a certificate for environmental compatibility and public need to the NYRI transmission line because New York needs:

local energy generation,
energy efficiency and conservation, and
continued protection of environmentally sensitive areas like the Delaware River and the Mongaup Wildlife Management Area.

Reference Case 06-T-0650—NYRI Transmission Line Proceeding

Written Comments:
Jaclyn A.Brilling, Secretary,
Public Service Commission,
Three Empire State Plaza, NY 12223-1350.
ATTN: Case 06-T-0650—NYRI Transmission Line Proceeding

Phone Calls: 1-800-335-2120.

Online Comments: Comments may also be submitted via the “PSC Comment Form” in the
“Consumer Assistance” section accessed through the Commission’s www.dps.state.ny.us

Public Hearings: www.dps.state.ny.us/NYRI.htm

National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor

What is the Mid-Atlantic National Electric Transmission Corridor?
Electric Transmission Corridors are designations made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The corridors give the federal government jurisdiction over certain energy transmission and production projects in the designated areas. The DOE-proposed Mid-Atlantic corridor spans throughout most of New York, down into West Virginia, and includes Maryland, parts of Pennsylvania, and Virginia (click here for a map of the proposed Mid-Atlantic corridor).

CCE opposes the proposed National Electric Transmission Corridor designation.

The corridor designation undermines state initiatives for energy conservation and energy demand reduction.
Corridor designation severely limits public participation as well as local municipalities’ and states' ability to monitor and properly site electric transmission and energy generation.
The DOE is not explicitly required to consider environmentally sensitive areas, like public parks, in the designation process of determining corridor boundaries.

On October 2, 2007, the DOE issued the National Electric Transmission Corridor designation order. CCE continues to work to ensure that publicly held lands and environmentally sensitive areas are not compromised as a result of this order.

On November 21, 2007, CCE wrote the DOE in support of New York State’s request for a rehearing on the Mid-Atlantic Corridor designation, and on December 4, 2007, the DOE denied the rehearing request. New York State has filed to appeal the denial of the rehearing request and to appeal the designation of the Mid-Atlantic Corridor.

Click here to read the DOE rehearing order of December 4, 2007

Click here to read CCE’s support of a rehearing request in New York State of November 21, 2007

Click here to read formal comments CCE submitted to the Department of Energy on July 6, 2007

Click here to read the press release on the draft Mid Atlantic Corridor

Click here to view the Department of Energy documents related to the proposed Mid-Atlantic National Electric Transmission Corridor

Updated by seckel 10/22/08