Will the transmission upgrades or gas pipelines involve eminent domain?
NYSEG's proposed Auburn transmission upgrade for the Cayuga Plant consists of an upgrade in capacity to an existing 4.2 miles of wire, plus building a new 14 mile line in an existing right of way. According to the NYSEG proposal, the Auburn transmission upgrade is needed even if the Caygua Plant is converted to burning gas. If the coal plant were converted to burning gas, a new gas pipeline would need to be installed. The Cayuga Operating Plant's proposal is so redacted that we don't know specifics of where the pipeline would run or to what extent eminent domain would be involved for that. The closest gas pipeline is 17 miles away.
National Grid's proposal for transmission upgrades in the Dunkirk area are all to existing power lines.
The NRG Dunkirk proposal for gas conversion indicates that "Several natural gas pipelines are located within a ten-mile radius of the Dunkirk site." The section of their proposal on permitting is redacted, so we are not able to determine if eminent domain is involved in siting a pipeline from those existing lines to the plant.
We have concerns about transmission lines criss-crossing our landscape. We are similarly concerned about the uncoordinated, ad-hoc build out of gas infrastructure - currently many pipelines as well as power plants across New York.
According to the NYISO Power Trend Report, there is a surplus of energy generated in upstate NY - the limiting factor is the grid (transmission lines). New York's Energy Highway Blueprint emphasizes the need for transmission upgrades (increasing capacity of existing lines plus building new ones) to enhance distribution of energy that we currently produce, as well as to support development and distribution of power from renewable sources. We don't know if a master plan exists to show what a build-out of the grid would look like and what the comprehensive environmental impacts (including eminent domain) would be. While that kind of build out is fortunately not germane to our current situation, it is certainly something to be aware of and perhaps advocate for at a later point.
National Grid's proposal for transmission upgrades in the Dunkirk area are all to existing power lines.
The NRG Dunkirk proposal for gas conversion indicates that "Several natural gas pipelines are located within a ten-mile radius of the Dunkirk site." The section of their proposal on permitting is redacted, so we are not able to determine if eminent domain is involved in siting a pipeline from those existing lines to the plant.
We have concerns about transmission lines criss-crossing our landscape. We are similarly concerned about the uncoordinated, ad-hoc build out of gas infrastructure - currently many pipelines as well as power plants across New York.
According to the NYISO Power Trend Report, there is a surplus of energy generated in upstate NY - the limiting factor is the grid (transmission lines). New York's Energy Highway Blueprint emphasizes the need for transmission upgrades (increasing capacity of existing lines plus building new ones) to enhance distribution of energy that we currently produce, as well as to support development and distribution of power from renewable sources. We don't know if a master plan exists to show what a build-out of the grid would look like and what the comprehensive environmental impacts (including eminent domain) would be. While that kind of build out is fortunately not germane to our current situation, it is certainly something to be aware of and perhaps advocate for at a later point.