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PSC holds conference on West Point project

Mar 25, 2014 6:52 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="218"] West Point Transmission
(Courtesy westpointproject.com)[/caption]

The New York State Public Service Commission held a procedural conference Thu., March 20, in Albany before Administrative Law Judge Kevin Casutto. The purpose of the conference was to hear comments on the West Point Partners proposal to construct and operate a 345kV HVDC transmission line known as West Point Project, which, if approved, would run from Athens to Cortlandt and then tie into existing transmission facilities to deliver power into New York City. The conference was held to identify interested parties, to discuss requests for intervenor funding, to determine a procedural schedule, and the necessity for, and locations of future public statement hearings. An attorney representing the town and village of Athens spoke, and questioned the cumulative impacts, overall need and alternatives for the project: PLAY (1:46). More than 30 people attended the conference in person or via video conferencing, including representatives of West Point, the town and village of Athens, and eight members of the Athens Citizens Development Committee. Also present were representatives of the New York Power Authority, Champlain Hudson, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, the town of Cortlandt and the hamlet of Verplanck. WGXC was the only representative of the media in attendance. NOTE: Sam Sebren is a founding member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee.

-- Sam Sebren


All audio recorded and produced by Sam Sebren.



Full conference recording (in two parts):



Part 1: PLAY (1:00:14)

Part 2: PLAY (20:59)


Clips




  1. Representatives of the state Department of Environmental Conservation asks about the relationship between the DC project and the AC project, and if there is an overlap in need: PLAY (1:07).

  2. Attorney representing the town of Cortlandt (Westchester Co.) raises concerns of noise, safety and questions the necessity of the project: PLAY (1:19).

  3. Judge Kevin Casutto and attorney representing West Point Partners discuss public disclosure: PLAY (1:13).

  4. West Point Partners and attorney representing town and village of Athens discuss alternatives to West Point proposal: PLAY (2:55).

  5. West Point Partners and DEC discuss perspectives on alternatives to the West Point proposal: PLAY (2:15)

  6. Scenic Hudson, DEC, West Point and Casutto discuss the need to extend the schedule, alternatives to the project and comparisons to the Champlain Hudson buried line project: PLAY (3:24).

  7. Prior to the proceeding, James Denn, the Director of Public Affairs for the state Public Service Commission spoke with members of ACDC: PLAY (13:08).

  8. The ACDC asks Denn about comparative DC projects: PLAY (2:15).