Editor’s Note: COAX NY representative addressed the following issue at this meeting. However, the questions as stated is not reported correctly, nor are the challenges to the responses from Senator Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano reported.
Q How is home rule affected by the Power New York Act that streamlines energy plant siting?
A O’Mara cautioned against the “not in my back yard” mentality and said the act sets aside funding for municipalities that challenge energy plant sitings. In addition, two local parties are appointed to siting committees as voting members.
Palmesano added that power companies must follow local ordinances, unless they are deemed unreasonable. Further, there is an appeals process. He said the challenge is that as much as two-thirds of the state’s energy production capacity could go offline with new state and federal regulations. However, no major plants have been sited in more than seven years.
“This was important to meet our stat energy needs,” Palmesano said. “We need to have a statewide energy plan.”
