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Ghent power line negotiations moving forward

Dec 26, 2014 12:02 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="178"] (c) FreeFoto.com[/caption]

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register Star negotiations over the Columbia County Transmission Project are continuing, with plans for the scaled down power line slated to run through Ghent and Chatham moving forward. In the latest development, the parties involved have agreed to inform the public about the progress of the discussions. Talks are ongoing between New York State Gas & Electric Company and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the state Public Service Commission and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. “We are very pleased with the progress and all of the parties involved are working incredibly hard,” said a representative of Protect Ghent. “Our voices have been heard and we believe everyone is coming to the table with a good solution for everyone.” Protect Ghent is a group of local residents that organized in opposition to NYSEG's original high voltage transmission line proposal. The line was would have run through conservation lands, farmland, the OMI International Arts Center and historic homes. Attorneys for both the town of Ghent and NYSEG told the paper that while excellent progress has been made, the process is still ongoing. Negotiations are expected to continue into 2015. Read the full story in the Register Star.