CHENANGO COUNTY – A second piece of legislation against a company vying to build a high power line through Chenango County was introduced in Washington this week.
United States Representative Sue Kelly, Republican, of New York’s 19th congressional district, made an effort Tuesday to close a loophole in the national energy law that would preempt New York Regional Interconnect, or <a href="http://www.evesun.com/topics/news/NYRI/">NYRI</a>, from invoking eminent domain on land owners along its 190 mile proposed power corridor.
The power transmission company has recently participated in two state senate hearings where details about their plan to build a 400 kV DC line from Marcy to Rock Tavern have emerged. The company filed application with the state in May seeking approval for the $1.6 billion project. Although NYRI claims that 90 percent of its proposed line runs along existing rights of way, and that properties in need of procurement have yet to be identified, worries have been aired that homes could be taken against residents’ wishes. Kelly addressed that concern Tuesday by introducing her Protecting Communities from Power Line Abuse Act.
“Eminent domain is a tool that will likely be sought to advance this widely-opposed plan. To end this threat, I’m introducing the Protecting Communities from Power Line Abuse Act. Let’s value our constituents’ rights to personal property,” Kelly said on the House floor.
The Protecting Communities from Power Line Abuse Act would rescind a provision in the Energy Policy Act that allows permit holders to petition the U.S. District Court for a right-of-way to construct power lines via eminent domain. “This gives eminent domain power not to an accountable government entity, but rather to private companies,” Kelly said.
