Archive: Opinions

I wish to respond to several assertions presented in the Editorial – Lifton Fails to Represent Lansing – printed in the June 26 issue.

First, I wish to provide some background information as context for my remarks. On July 20, 2012 Cayuga filed a notice with the Public Service Commission (PSC) that it intended to mothball the power plant. After a NYSEG reliability study was conducted, the PSC approved a Reliability Support Services Agreement in 2012 for the period January 2013 to January 2014. Subsequently a second Agreement was entered into for a period ending in June 2017. The potential cost to NYSEG ratepayers for continued operation, maintenance, and capital improvements for the power plant is $191.3 million (these costs may be somewhat reduced by reimbursement provisions too complex to review here). In addition, a repowering of the plant with natural gas could cost ratepayers another $145 million.

In the 2009 NYSEG Rate Case, NYSEG provided the PSC with a five-year Capital Expenditure Forecast that proposed addressing the Auburn load pocket with upgraded transmission lines. If the PSC had required NYSEG to construct these lines, presumably, none of the above expenditures would have been required of ratepayers. Also the capital expenditure budget for this 4.5 year RSS Agreement period is $46.3 million which exceeds the projected cost impacts on NYSEG ratepayers of the proposed 2 phases of transmission line upgrades. Many of the projected capital expenditures are for long-term improvements which may be mostly unnecessary if the plant closes in the near future.

Did Assemblywoman Lifton 'torpedo' the Town of Lansing? She represented her entire district including her constituents in Lansing in her attempt to limit the impact of these huge costs on ratepayers. Note that none of these ratepayers outside of Lansing receive commensurate funding support for their school districts.

Is repowering needed as an interim measure? The NY Independent System Operator's Gold Book indicates that the NYSEG Load Zone has sufficient energy supplies without a repowered Cayuga. We need to phase out fossil fuel facilities over time and accelerate the seamless integration of renewable energy facilities. Competing fossil fuel technologies have long fostered the myth that renewables are not ready for deployment. Wind turbines, solar PV panels, and air-source and ground-source heat pumps are proven technologies. We just need the willpower to accelerate their widespread adoption.

Community transition assistance has become more than a 'vague recommendation'. In the NYS legislative session just concluded, $19 million of funding support was approved for transitioning municipalities and school districts. This legislation was supported by Lifton as well as Senators Nozzolio, O'Mara, and Seward. The enabling legislation is for a ten year period beginning in April 2016. When the retirement of a fossil fuel electric generating facility has caused a reduction in tax collections of at least 20%, funds could be made available for a five year period which are capped at 80% of the lost revenues. More funding support could be added during the annual NYS budget process if needed and we can lobby to adjust the formula to address the fiscal requirements of the Town and School District. Finally, with community support, Governor Cuomo could be urged to designate Lansing as a preferred site for economic development opportunities and incentives.

I could not disagree more with the editorial statement that "Lansing is looking at a disaster". Lansing has a strong commercial base with rapidly expanding residential developments and valuable lakeshore properties. The tax base has been increasing as the tax value of the power plant has been declining. Would anyone in Lansing wish to switch places with another local school district even if the power plant closes?  Lansing has been most fortunate to possess this valuable tax asset for the past 60 years, but it is now time to move on and let it retire peacefully while adopting the more forward-looking energy policy that we need to achieve our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

Brian Eden
Ithaca, NY

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