Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

SENATORS TO NYPA: GET BACK TO THE TABLE

State Senators Patty Ritchie, Joe Griffo and George Maziarz, the Chair of the State Senate’s Energy Committee, joined together to call on the New York Power Authority to get back to the table, after NYPA abruptly ended talks on benefits to local communities impacted by the sprawling St. Lawrence-FDR power dam.

“The shoreline communities sacrificed so much to make the St. Lawrence Power Project possible, and the impact is still being felt today,” said Senator Ritchie. “The Power Authority needs to reach a common sense compromise that addresses the needs of these communities, and we are urging that they get back to table to resume negotiations. It’s time to find common ground.”

“The Power Authority has earned billions of dollars from its operations on the St. Lawrence River, and these communities want nothing more than to be treated fairly,” said Senator Griffo.

Both Senators Ritchie and Griffo also serve on the Senate Energy Committee.

“NYPA has an obligation to treat host communities equitably, whether they are in Western or Northern New York,” said Senator Maziarz. “But if NYPA won’t talk, they’re not living up to their end of the deal. It’s time to get back to table and reach an equitable deal for the North Country.”

Local government leaders and the Power Authority have been conducting a 10-year review of the Massena dam’s 2002 relicensing agreement.

Critics say that deal shortchanged the North Country, compared to a similar relicensing pact between NYPA and Western New York communities located near the utility’s Niagara Project facility, and the differences have cost local communities here millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the New York Power Authority said it’s committed to continuing talks with the task force.

“We are offering significant and substantial benefits such as a $40 million discount in electric rates for businesses, farms and dairies, between now and 2018, and building new recreation facilities to attract large tourist events, all of which go beyond the hundreds of millions of dollars in current NYPA funding from the license,” NYPA said in a news release. According to NYPA, the Local Government Task Force “has ignored all of these proposals and is solely interested in funds that can be used for general local government purposes. As the LGTF is well aware, this cannot be done, as it is outside NYPA’s legal authority.”