Arcuri and others to question validity of NYRI and federal energy law today

CHENANGO COUNTY – Players with private and public interest in the nation’s energy policy are meeting this afternoon in Washington to examine the need for federal involvement in state energy issues – which locally could involve fast-tracking New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s controversial 190-mile-long power line through upstate.

At the 2 p.m. hearing, Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica), along with members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, will be questioning officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, two state energy committees, private and state-owned utilities, and environmental and historic preservation organizations in regards to the validity of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, and its provisions that could push NYRI’s project through despite existing state governance.

www.evesun.com/topics/news/NYRI/">NYRI is not listed as one of the witnesses.

“We must cover all the bases and take every necessary step to stop www.evesun.com/topics/news/NYRI/">NYRI’s advances,” Arcuri said Tuesday afternoon. “I welcome the opportunity that this hearing provides to make clear to Department of Energy officials just how strong local opposition is to the power line proposal in New York state.”

New York State Assemblyman Paul Tonko, chair of the Assembly Energy Committee, is among the witnesses who will be questioned during the proceedings. Also, representatives from the Piedmont Environmental Council and National Trust for Historic Preservation, who have been working with the local www.evesun.com/topics/news/NYRI/">NYRI opposition groups, will be on hand.

Under certain circumstances, section 1221 of the energy act could eventually allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to overstep a state’s authority and review a power line proposal, even if the proposal was already denied at the state level. In order to do so, the DOE would first have to designate a state as part of a National Interest Electric Transmissions Corridor. Corridors are expected to be announced in the near future, but no date has been given (in an August 2006 electricity congestion study that will influence NIETC designations, the DOE deemed southern New York state to be a “Critical Congestion” area).