..."The bottom line is, I have never seen a company show such contempt for local communities and local concerns," said Schumer. "NYRI's proposed route is by design inappropriate, slicing a jagged edge through too many pristine areas and vibrant communities."
...

"It makes no sense to give a private company the right to eminent domain," Schumer said. "Communities and neighborhoods should not have their homes taken at whim by private companies."
...

"[Borough President] Marty [Markowitz] is taking it on the chin," sympathized Schumer, "from what I call the culture of inertia, this small group of self-appointed people. If we do not grow, we will die."

Schumer: Don't let bureaucrats overrule states
WAMPSVILLE - "Communities Not Corridors: STOP NYRI" was one sign protesters waved as they greeted U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., when he spoke at the Madison County Office Complex Monday morning in Wampsville.

"The most important thing I hope is that there's going to be continued legal challenges to the issue and that there will be no eminent domain for a private company in what I think is not in the good of the public," said Hubbardsville resident Lydia Slater, who came for the press conference.

Should the New York State Regional Interconnect be allowed to build its proposed transmission lines from the Utica area to Orange County downstate - a route that would cut right through Hubbardsville - Slater said the lines would be within a mile of her house and on top of several neighboring properties.

"The impact of the towers in historically pristine Nine Mile Swamp is of big concern to me," Slater said.

"The bottom line is, I have never seen a company show such contempt for local communities and local concerns," said Schumer. "NYRI's proposed route is by design inappropriate, slicing a jagged edge through too many pristine areas and vibrant communities."

He said that he will be introducing legislation that is "designed to restore the rights of states," rights that he said have been taken away by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The act allows the Department of Energy to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, one of which stretches along the east coast and includes a large chunk of New York state, from the Utica area down to Orange County.

In addition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to permit construction of transmission lines in the designated corridors by private companies, overriding state energy policy and decisions.

Under the law, the federal agency was given authority to issue construction permits in cases where the state either fails to act or is unable to act on an application for siting authority - as well as grant a permit when a state has withheld or denied approval for power lines.

In addition, companies like NYRI have the right to petition in U.S. District Court to acquire rights of way for the construction of transmission lines through the power of eminent domain.

"It makes no sense to give a private company the right to eminent domain," Schumer said. "Communities and neighborhoods should not have their homes taken at whim by private companies."

In an effort to curb the commission's power to supersede state authority, Schumer's proposed legislation would:

* Clarify that a state denial of permit is not equivalent to inaction.

* Eliminate FERC's authority to grant eminent domain

* Let decisions play out in the states, only allowing FERC to jump in when it can be shown the states are not acting reasonably.

"I have often stated that I do not oppose the effort to bring more power from upstate to the downstate region, and I will continue to support this goal," Schumer said. "But it's crystal clear that FERC can't ride roughshod over the rights of the affected local communities or override state law. There is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it, and this is the wrong way."...
(Emphasis added throughout.)