Hearing on NYRI power lines held at M.V.C.C.
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WKTV News
Story Created:
Oct 22, 2008 at 9:42 PM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:09 PM EST
UTICA (WKTV) - The third of thirteen public statement hearings regarding the proposed New York Regional Interconnect power line project, was held at Mohawk Valley Community College Wednesday. Public Service Commission officials, the ones who will ultimately rule whether or not a power line project is needed in New York State, listened to the public give the reasons why they don't want the proposed project.
P.S.C. officials say what they hear from the thirteen hearings, will in fact be taken into serious consideration before a decision is made," said Anne Dalton, the Public Affairs Officer for the P.S.C. "We wouldn't be spending three weeks on the road conducting thirteen public hearings. (We wouldn't be) leaving a toll free opinion line open 24/7, putting a comment form on our website, if we didn't take it very seriously. We consider it a prime responsibility on a project like this, to get as much public input as we possibly can."
During the hearing, both elected leaders and concerned land owners, spoke before two administrative law judges assigned by the Public Service Commission. Their message was simply, the project is a bad idea. "This project will be the most devastating economic and community disaster to hit Oneida County since the Department of the Defense closed Griffiss Air Force Base," said Brian Miller, Oneida County Legislator who represents the 16th district including parts of New Hartford, the Town of Paris, and Bridgewater.
State Senator Joe Griffo also spoke. "We the people of this region believe we are fighting a threat to the people of our community," Griffo said. "A threat to our economy and a threat to our environment."
Most of the elected officials spoke to how a power line project could compromise the plan to bring a NanoTech facility to SUNYIT. Other leaders focused on the fear that electric rates will increase.
Four New York Regional Interconnect representatives sat in the front row Wednesday, and afterward said what they were hearing was misinformation. "People repeat untruths over and over again and so they become fact," said Dave Kalson, the Public Relations representative for N.Y.R.I. "That is disheartening." Wednesday nights hearing was the last one close to the Mohawk Valley, the next closes will be Thursday November 6th, in Norwich.
Once all the hearings are done, its up to the Public Service Commission to determine whether or not a power line project is needed in New York State. That decision could come as early as the spring on 2009.
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