Dec 30, 2005 — Local officials will meet next week in Canton to discuss St. Lawrence County's two-year-old settlement with the New York Power Authority. As David Sommerstein reports, they may have trouble finding agreement on many issues.  Go to full article

Sep 26, 2005 — Two years ago, the New York Power Authority got a new 50-year license to operate the hydropower dam on the St. Lawrence River. One condition of the license renewal was that NYPA return 1,500 acres of once-private land to local hands. Much of it will go to the villages and towns in St. Lawrence County affected by the power project. But some was to be transferred to property owners who live along the river. The state Attorney General recently ruled that's unconstitutional, and that the land should be sold at fair market value. As David Sommerstein reports, many local residents feared something like this would happen.  Go to full article

Mar 09, 2004 — David Sommerstein talks with Massena attorney Tom Snider about his new book, Power Dam Politics. It's Snider's take on the negotiations to relicense the New York Power Authority's massive hydropower project on the St. Lawrence River.  Go to full article

Oct 30, 2001 — A report from the last meeting of the group that's been negotiating with the New York Power Authority on conditions for relicensing the Moses Saunders hydro project--David Sommerstein has reactions to the experimental, collaborative process.  Go to full article

Oct 29, 2001 — Town leaders along the St. Lawrence River approved a settlement Friday with the New York Power Authority as a part of its bid for a new license to operate its power dam near Massena. The $115 million deal includes recreational improvements, returns of land, and payments to St. Lawrence County and its towns affected by the power project. David Sommerstein reports the agreement ends years of often tense negotiations.  Go to full article

Aug 21, 2001 — NYPA needs to submit its relicensing application to federal officials in October, but local interests still haven't offered their input. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Mar 12, 2001 — The new relicensing team for the New York Power Authority is making good on its promise to be more sensitive to the concerns of local communities. NYPA is asking the federal government for approval to drop the town of Lisbon from the St. Lawrence Power Project boundaries. David Sommerstein reports the new-found cooperation may have come from political pressure.  Go to full article

Feb 23, 2001 — With the New York Power Authority and St. Lawrence County groups waging a public relations battle over the St. Lawrence power project relicensing deal, the county Chamber of Commerce is giving both sides a chance to sway local business leaders. At Clarkson University's Cheel Center yesterday, it was the Power Authority's turn to present its case. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Feb 21, 2001 — When the New York Power Authority began the process of relicensing its St. Lawrence power project for another 50 years of operation, it tried to be a good neighbor and invited all the stakeholders to get involved: environmentalists who wanted to improve fish habitat; boaters who wanted better docks; host communities that want compensation for their lands that were lost and flooded nearly fifty years ago. For many, relicensing has represented a once in a lifetime opportunity to right past wrongs. In the final part of David Sommerstein's series on relicensing the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, this cooperative approach is breaking new ground nationwide. If it works, it could set a new standard for hundreds of other relicensing efforts slated for the next ten years.  Go to full article

Feb 20, 2001 — Drive along the St. Lawrence between Ogdensburg and Massena and you'll see a mosaic of public and private property. Beautiful riverside homes sit next to state picnic areas and town beaches. New York Power Authority marinas and recreation areas share the shoreline with Mohawk tribal lands. These diverse interests share one thing in common: the water in the wide St. Lawrence and 37 miles of its shoreline are used to make two million kilowatts of electricity at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project near Massena. Nearly fifty years ago, the project flooded thousands of acres of marshes, farms, businesses, and houses. A series of public meetings began almost five years ago to hear from stakeholders looking for compensation as the New York Power Authority seeks a license to operate the project for another 50 years. After all the bargaining, when the Power Authority released a draft of its application in January, some groups cried foul and accused the Power Authority of not negotiating in good faith. In part 2 of David Sommerstein's series on the relicensing, local groups are stepping up their struggle to get a settlement they can live with for half a century, but in doing so, they risk losing what they've already been offered.  Go to full article