On August 4, 2011 The New York Power Act (Article 10) was signed into law by Governor Cuomo, re-authorizing the state to oversee and regulate the siting of new and updated electric energy generating facilities, stripping the decision making process away from local communities.
Governor Cuomo acknowledged there would be controversy associated with siting issues, but that both sides in any siting controversy would be heard in a “fair process.”
3 comments:
Well done. Of course the Article 10 Siting Board is Cuomo's Kangaroo Court. But there is a lesson here for all those who oppose projects in New York - look beyond the kangaroos, look beyond the Siting Board. The 'yes men' are programmed to say yes to developers. Opponents of any project have to understand the real fight is in the Appellate Court, where the judges aren't part of Cuomo's administration. Build your case, inform the record and don't expect the siting board to be fair and independent.
… re. the comment to the article/cartoon: No community that I know of has the $ to take a Siting Board decision to an appellate court. We must bear in mind that simply fighting the developer through the Article 10 process (which is at least a year) is very costly to small municipalities. The so-called intervenor funds are nowhere near enough to cover the town’s expenses. The “concerned citizens” groups who fight these projects have even less $ than the municipality.
Developers never, ever, target a large, wealthy town or city. Always small, financially strapped rural communities. Appellate court, for all practical purposes, is not an option.
Calvin Luther Martin
This cartoon tells us to stop kidding ourselves. We will never get a fair hearing from a board filled with Cuomo appointees.
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