Call Gov Cuomo’s office ASAP and say “we support investing in NYS transmission lines and creating NYS energy and power generation jobs”: 518-474-8390

Whereas, the United States Department of Energy and the New York Independent System Operator have identified New York State electric transmission lines as being aged and unable to deliver adequate capacity, a condition known as “transmission congestion”, and

Whereas, there is a growing demand for electricity in the New York City area, but because of the inadequate transmission system in New York State, specifically the “choke points” for electric transmission from Utica going east, and Albany going south, plants in Upstate New York that have abundant available power, AES Somerset included among them, cannot get their product to this demand market, and

Whereas, as a result of this “transmission congestion”, New York City pays significantly more for power, and is currently moving forward on a plan to import power from New Jersey with an $800 million subsidy from the New York Power Authority to address New York City Power needs, and

Whereas, a Canadian developer has approached the New York Public Service Commission with plans to build a 385 mile, 1,000 MW cable from Quebec to New York City, by-passing New York State transmission lines and denying New York power  generators, like AES Somerset, any chance to compete in the marketplace, and

Whereas, there are a number of reasons why importing power is bad for New York State, not the least of which are the lost opportunity for our WNY power generation facilities having the ability to compete and retain good paying jobs;  New York State losing its fuel diversity and energy independence, putting us at the mercy of supply and demand price spikes; and the abandonment of renewable energy projects that would create a significant number of green jobs, and

Whereas, the owners of the AES Somerset power plant have put that facility up for sale because of its inability to compete, and two other facilities here in Western New York, NRG Huntley and Dunkirk, are also struggling, and 

Whereas, the AES Somerset plant is Niagara County’s largest taxpayer, and simply put, Niagara County taxpayers would not be able to absorb the approximately $15 million in annual payments made by the company if the generating station was forced to permanently shut down,

Whereas, the ability to move the abundant, available power from these plants in Western New York to the downstate area would have a positive effect on these struggling facilities, saving hundreds of jobs, and significant tax base for all of WNY, and

Whereas, tens of thousands of jobs in transmission construction and power generation, including renewable energy, will occur from investing in New York State’s energy infrastructure, now, therefore be it

Resolved, that the Niagara County Legislature go on record requesting the State of New York make a much needed investment in the upgrade of New York State’s electric transmission line infrastructure by using existing  mechanisms for funding transmission upgrades that would hold the ratepayers harmless, and  will go a long way in stabilizing employment at existing power plants, while creating enormous opportunities in renewable energy development, and be it further

Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, Senator George Maziarz, Chairman, NYS Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, Chairman, Assembly Energy Committee, Gil C. Quiniones, Acting President & CEO, New York Power Authority, Michael J. Townsend, Chairman, New York Power Authority, Jonathan F. Foster, Vice Chairman, New York Power Authority, D. Patrick Curley, Trustee, New York Power Authority, Eugene L. Nicandri, Trustee, New York Power Authority, Mark O’Luck, Trustee, New York Power Authority, John S. Dyson, Trustee, New York Power Authority, R. Wayne LeChase, Trustee, New York Power Authority, Patrick Foye, NYS Deputy Secretary of Economic Development, Thomas Congdon, NYS Deputy Energy  Secretary, Garry Brown, Chairman, NYS PSC, Stephen Whitley, and President & Chairman, NY ISO