Power Line Pits City’s Energy Needs Against Upstate Opposition
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON — Amid the crescendo of upstate opposition to a proposed high-voltage power line is a buzzing, crackling problem: scientists fear New York City’s energy demands will outstrip its supply in just a matter of years.
Officials with New York Regional Interconnect Inc. came to Washington last week seeking to win support for their proposed transmission line running some 200 miles south from Utica to the lower Hudson Valley.
So far, the project has generated massive resistance among upstate communities. It has also been met with skepticism from politicians, except in New York City, where officials worry about the possibility of future blackouts if the peak demand days of summer overwhelm the downstate power grid.
On hot summer days, New York City consumes more power than the entire nation of Chile and only a bit less than Switzerland — and its demands keep growing.
NYRI project manager Bill May said last week that New Yorkers across the state should realize a basic fact: New York City needs more, cheaper, electricity, and without it the entire state will suffer.
“New York City is the growth engine for New York State and has been for many years,” Mr. May said during a trip to Washington to lobby federal officials for the line as part of what he said is a national need for improved transmission systems.
Upstate officials bristle at the suggestion that doing what’s best for the city will ultimately be best for them.
“I take serious offense to what NYRI is trying to do,” Rep. Michael Arcuri, Democrat of Utica, said. “NYRI is trying to pit upstate against downstate, and I refuse to be a part of that. We are good neighbors, and this is not about pitting upstate against downstate.”
NYRI argues its line is not the monstrosity envisioned by upstate residents. NYRI says their towers will be much shorter than a similar line built years ago, and it will be built largely along old stretches of railroad to cause minimal disruption.
That’s still way too close for Mr. Arcuri, whose own home is just 300 to 400 feet from the proposed line.
“They are trying to knife a scar right down the middle of the state, and just run roughshod over property owners,” Mr. Arcuri said.
