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New York Power Authority and St. Lawrence River communities continue war of words over relicensing project

Posted 7/1/14

The war of words continues between the New York Power Authority and the communities along the St. Lawrence River who feel shortchanged with what they call a lack of progress in talks over the …

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New York Power Authority and St. Lawrence River communities continue war of words over relicensing project

Posted

The war of words continues between the New York Power Authority and the communities along the St. Lawrence River who feel shortchanged with what they call a lack of progress in talks over the authorities’ obligation under its most recent federal relicensing of the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project.

In a statement to the press from NYPA spokesman Michael Saltzman, the authority says it “is committed to continuing our discussions with the Local Government Task Force (LGTF) in the review of the settlement agreement for the 2003 federal relicense” of the power pProject.

“We are offering significant and substantial benefits such as a $40 million discount in electric rates for businesses, farms and dairies, between now and 2018, and building new recreation facilities to attract large tourist events, all of which go beyond the hundreds of millions of dollars in current NYPA funding from the license,” the authority statement goes on.

“Regrettably, the LGTF has ignored all of these proposals and is solely interested in funds that can be used for general local government purposes. As the LGTF is well aware, this cannot be done, as it is outside NYPA’s legal authority,” the statement says, a claim the LGTF rejects.

“While significant progress has been achieved, we look forward to a mutual, good faith effort that ends in a comprehensive agreement that benefits all members of the St. Lawrence community,” the press release concludes.