White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Executive Spano Explores Feasibility of New Electric Line for Region Under RR

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications and John Bailey reporting. (EDITED) March 3, 2003 UPDATED: County Executive Andy Spano will hold a symposium Tuesday monring at 9:30 in the "D" Room in the Westchester County Center to explore a new electronic transmission line proposal to bring 2,000 Megawatts of power to the region, with an eye towards replacing the electricity supplied by Indian Point, should Indian Point be closed.

Presently, according to the New York Independent Systems Operator press office spokesman, Steve Sullivan, speaking to WPCNR Friday, there are not enough existing transmission lines to bring the full 2,000 replacement megawatts to the region. According to the NYISO office, Friday, transmission lines presently in place can only handle 1,600 megawatts, leaving Westchester 400 megawatts short no matter how much electricity NYISO can import from New England or upstate. Mr. Spano has moved to find ways to address this capacity problem. He has not taken a position on whether or not he supports the line.

Officials throughout Westchester County will have a chance tomorrow to learn about the proposal to bring inexpensive clean electric power from upstate New York and parts of Canada to Westchester County and the surrounding region.

County Executive Andy Spano has sent out letters inviting more than 100 federal, state, and local officials to an informational meeting on the project at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. A presentation will be given in Room D at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

"We want everyone who is interested in energy, Indian Point and the environment to hear the presentation and be able to ask questions," said Spano, who has not taken a position on the proposal. "It's important to show everyone that there are possible alternatives to Indian Point."

Representatives of the company making the proposal - Conjunction LLC - will give a presentation on the "Empire Connection" project. The speakers will be Steve Mitnick, chief executive officer; Jeanine Hull, the company's general counsel; and Roger Clayton, new senior vice president for electrical engineering (also the former chairman of the New York Reliability Council).

Mitnik noted that the project would dramatically reduce electrical costs for the entire downstate area.

"Electric bills would fall significantly in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Families and businesses in New York City would save more than $100 million a year," he said. "The power would be cheaper than any other power source down here - save the limited amount provided by upstate hydroelectric plants and the output from the Indian Point nuclear power plant."

As proposed, the plan would move 2,000 megawatts of power from upstate to downstate - equivalent to almost a quarter of New York City's average electric usage, Mitnick said.

Unlike the transmission lines that make up the current grids, built between 1950 and 1975, the new line would have cables following the tracks of an old rail route, going underground as necessary, to avoid unnecessary environmental impact. It also uses a modern solid cable that can not leak, combust, electrify or explode, according to company officials.

When above ground, in remote areas, Empire Connection would replace the rail communication poles that currently line the rail route. When underground, two five-inch cables will be buried five feet below the surface.

The line would start in Albany - 140 miles north of New York City - and follow the old Hudson River Railroad along the Hudson River to Manhattan. Railroads currently using the rails - including Amtrak and Metro-North - would receive substantial annual payments which could be used to improve service between Albany and New York City.

To carry out the project, Conjunction must get approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York Independent System Operator. Those applications have already been filed. An application to the New York Public Service Commission will be filed this spring.

The project is proposed to start construction in late 2004 and be complete in late 2005. During installation, Conjunction intends to fund selective projects to enhance the beauty of the east bank of the Hudson River and increase New Yorkers' access to the river.

The company has been meeting with the counties involved as well as environmental groups, and will hold regional meetings where members of the public will be invited to participate.

"Even at this early stage we want to hear from people," Mitnick said. "If they want details or drawings or have questions about how it will affect them - we want to hear that. We know that if we're open and answer their questions honestly, they'll feel better about the project."


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