Welcome to CARI

NEW! NYRI CLARIFIES LANGUAGE IN LETTER, APPLICATION IS WITHDRAWN! Click here to read NYRI's Clarification Letter.

NEW! NYRI PROJECT WITHDRAWS APPLICATION!!!

Today following a mid-day break in the Article VII certification proceeding, NYRI announced it will withdraw its application from consideration by the Public Service Commission.  Counsel for NYRI explained that in the wake of a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this week, NYRI’s investors decided to end their pursuit of an Article VII Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need. Earlier this week, FERC denied NYRI’s request for rehearing in a proceeding relating to the recovery of transmission system upgrade costs.
 
The announcement that NYRI is withdrawing its application occurred in the midst of cross examination of NYRI Witnesses and immediately following CARI’s cross examination on demand side management and economics.
 
The presiding officers asked NYRI to confirm in writing their withdrawal no later than Monday, April 6, 2009.  The Judges also made clear that if NYRI were to seek approval for a similar project in the future, NYRI would be required to once again start at the beginning of the Article VII process.

Communities Against Regional Interconnect, on behalf of the counties of Sullivan, Orange, Delaware, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego and the Upper Delaware Council, Stop NYRI, Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, Say No to NYRI and the Upstate New York Citizens' Alliance, would like to thank all of those who participated in opposing this ill-conceived Power Line Project in our region.

Thank you to everyone who sent donations, wrote letters, provided testimony, attended public meetings, County planning departments, communities, legal experts, the Attorney General’s Office, DEC, Department of Public Service, consultants, media, organizations, activists, local, state and federal elected officials who all participated in this unprecedented regional effort.  

Together, we made a difference. However, the work is not over! We must secure intervener funding to protect the public interest if similar projects are proposed in the future and make sure the 4th District Court's decision regarding FERC's authority is not overturned!
_______________________________________________

Evidentiary hearing notes can be viewed here.

FERC Ruling from the 4th District Court- Ruling

1. Reverses FERC’s broad interpretation of the Energy Policy Act and holds that state denial of a permit application is not a withholding of approval for more than one year so as to confer jurisdiction on FERC.

2. The FERC regulations are vacated and remanded to FERC for the required consultation with the Counsel on Environmental Quality.

NYRI Investors Threaten to Pull the Plug - Press Release

NYRI's Protest Document Filed with FERC

NYRI's Original November 17th, 2008 Motion Filed with FERC

FERC October 2008 Order Approving the NYISO OATT

NYISO’s Original Filing Letter of 12/07/07 with the Super Majority Voting Reference on Page 15

CARI Experts Submit Testimony to the Public Service Commission on the NYRI Project - click here to read expert testimony.

CARI Responds to Questions on Route Alternatives, CARI is completely opposed to the NYRI project in any form - click here to read Letter to the Editor.

Communities Appeal Administrative Law Judge's Ruling in the NYRI Article VII Proceeding - click here to read press release.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Finds
The New York Regional Interconnect Will Have an Adverse Impact on New
York's Historic and Cultural Resources - click here to read letter.

What are the Regional Issues and Why is NYRI the Wrong Project for New York State? - click here.

Summary of Public Statement Hearings - click here.

Public Statements, Information Submitted During the Hearings, Public Service Commission Presentation - click here.

CARI is a non-profit organization of seven New York counties and five community interest organizations formed to promote the conservation of natural resources, including scenic and aesthetic resources and natural beauty; to protect the environment, including wildlife habitat, flora and fauna, and other biological values; to preserve historic sites, including those containing archaeological or cultural resources; and to promote the orderly development of the areas within New York State in which a 190-mile in-state overhead transmission line is proposed to be constructed by New York Regional Interconnect, Inc.

The members of Communities Against Regional Interconnect are: Madison County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Broome County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Chenango County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Delaware County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Oneida County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Orange County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; Sullivan County, on behalf of the citizens thereof; STOP NYRI, Inc.; Upstate New York Citizens Alliance; Say No 2 NYRI; Upper Delaware Council; and the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition.