Canton, NY, Oct 05, 2010 — Municipal power advocates in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties took a big step over the weekend. But they have a lot more work to do to create a new not-for-profit power company.

Governor Paterson signed a bill creating the North Country Power Authority on Saturday. It paves the way for 24 towns and villages in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties to buy the lines, poles, and substations from National Grid. Robert Best, president of the Alliance for Municipal Power, estimates that will cost $50 million. But he told David Sommerstein municipalized electricity from Gouverneur to Fort Covington is far from a done deal.