The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) decided Dec. 17 to move ahead with a major high-voltage power line project through the Hudson Valley. The commission approved major upgrades to 156 miles of high-voltage transmission lines running from Utica to New York City, part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Energy Highway program. Locally, the $1.2-billion project will place larger, high-voltage power lines through an existing power line corridor through Rensselear, Columbia, and Dutchess counties. The Hudson Valley Smart Energy Coalition, a group of activists and municipalities opposed to the project, said in a press release that it was upset by the decision. Ian Solomon of Farmers and Families for Claverack and the larger coalition against the project said, “Today’s decision is a real disappointment for Hudson Valley residents, farms and businesses. We feel strongly that the wrong decision has been made, as all hard evidence shows the net impact will be detrimental to ratepayers, property owners and the environment."