Canton, NY, Mar 10, 2010 — Two-dozen towns in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties may soon be able to join forces and create a municipal electric company. This non-profit company could cut power bills by buying and distributing its own electricity, cutting out the utility middleman.

Right now, each town has the right to form its own electric company, similar to those in Massena, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. But, it doesn't make sense for small, rural towns to go it alone. That's according to Bob Best. He's president of the Alliance for Municipal Power, or AMP. The group has worked for more than a decade to establish a municipal power company in rural St. Lawrence County.

He said that while each town could form its own electric company, state law doesn't allow towns to come together in a single municipal company. AMP has been asking state lawmakers to change that. The state Senate passed a bill clearing the way this week. It goes next to the Assembly, and if approved, on to the governor.

Municipal power companies have also faced stiff opposition from utilities, long legal battles to win control of the local transmission system, and penalties when they left the grid.
Best told Martha Foley this takeover, from National Grid, could be a friendly one, once the legislature and governor sign off.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Mar 03, 2010 — Last week, a Canadian company called Transmission Developers Incorporated unveiled a $3.8-billion plan to lay high-power electric transmission lines under Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. The project would be part of the new "smart" electrical grid, designed to open the floodgates to new sources of green and renewable energy. The company has begun meeting with state regulators, environmentalists and historic preservation groups. As Brian Mann reports, the transmission line will be one of the most complicated power-grid projects in the country.  Go to full article

Feb 24, 2010 — State and federal officials will have to approve a new plan to run a high-voltage electricity transmission line 300 miles from Quebec to metro New York City through New York's Champlain Valley - mostly underwater.

Hydro-Quebec is a major supplier of electricity to the northeastern U.S. The design calls for the power line to be buried in the bottom sediment of Lake Champlain, the Hudson Canal, and the Hudson River.

The project is being developed by a Toronto company, which sees the underwater design is a way to avoid the environmental and political problems of constructing new powerline corridors through communities. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 15, 2010 — A Canadian company hopes to build a massive new electric transmission line that will use the Champlain and Hudson Valleys to bring power from Quebec to New York City. Transmission Developers Incorporated, based in Toronto, is asking state regulators in New York to approve the use of a type of cable that can be buried underwater. As Brian Mann reports, the technology would mean fewer impacts on communities and landscapes in the North Country.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 12, 2010 — State officials unveiled a new plan yesterday to run a high-voltage electricity transmission line from Canada down through New York's Champlain Valley. The "Champlain-Hudson Express Project" would carry power along the three-hundred mile long corridor to New York City.  Go to full article

Letart, WV, Jan 29, 2010 — "Clean coal" got a mention in President Obama's State of the Union address this week. Along with nuclear power and alternative energy sources, the President listed clean coal as an important sources for energy for the country.

He also promised to move forward on climate change reductions. And here, America is in a bind. Almost half of our electricity comes from coal. But compared to other power sources, coal produces the most carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Industry is testing new technology in hopes of fulfilling the promise of "clean coal." Shawn Allee has this update on a test project that has some hard work left to do.  Go to full article

Dec 16, 2009 — State officials who operate Gore Mountain ski area in North Creek say they want $20,000 to study construction of a new hydro power facility on the mountain. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Palo Alto, CA, Nov 24, 2009 — Your power bill likely will change in the next few years. Lester Graham reports there's a good chance you'll be thinking about how much electricity you use and when you'll use it.  Go to full article

Childwold, NY, Oct 26, 2009 — The head of the New York Power Authority, green groups, officials from National Grid, state Senator Betty Little and a host of local government leaders are urging voters across the state to support a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot when they go to the polls Nov. 3. The amendment would allow for a land swap that's the final step in a $30-million upgrade to the electric distribution system in the Tri-Lakes, which included construction of a new, 46-kilovolt transmission line to Tupper Lake. Chris Knight reports.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Aug 19, 2009 — Governor David Paterson has released a draft of the new New York State Energy Plan. It will affect how we heat our homes, power our appliances, businesses, and factories, and how much it will all cost. The plan sets a goal of using 30% renewable electricity by 2015 and reducing energy usage by 15% over the same timeframe. Public hearings are being held statewide. The first one yesterday in Canton held symbolic and political significance. David Sommerstein explains why.  Go to full article