Gary D. Finch

     (Central New York & Southern Tier) – Assemblyman Finch (R, C –Springport) is condemning a recent federal Department of Energy decision that will force New York State to accept the plan for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor in the rural reaches of the 123^rd Assembly District. 

     “In short, the Department of Energy is a federal agency telling the people of upstate New York their concerns are not important,” blasted Finch.  “The Department of Energy’s action potentially circumvents local authority, concern and control.  The decision is unwarranted, unwelcomed and must be stopped.”

     News of the federal ruling was ill received by the dozens of communities along a 200-mile stretch of land, which are fighting a proposal from New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) to construct high-voltage power lines from Central New York through the Southern Tier to feed power-hungry New York City.

     “I strongly believe the federal government’s ruling takes away the authority these communities have in voicing their objection to the plan.  Construction of this transmission line will have devastating economic and environmental consequences.  Any such action threatens to decrease property values, raise electric rates, ignore the rights of property owners, pose health risks and damage the environment.”

     Assemblyman Finch noted that if negotiations between NYRI and the state Public Service Commission break down, the federal government’s ruling lets NYRI circumvent state permission and go to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for eminent domain authority.

     “Instead of being sensitive to the concerns of rural communities, the DOE’s decision makes it easier for NYRI to simply wait another year and build their power line without sensitivity to our concerns. We cannot and will not accept that.  If the federal government is going to ignore the voices of New York’s upstate communities, then we should consider the possibility of taking this matter to court,” said Finch.

10-03-07