September 10, 2003
American Lung Association of New York State
Environmental Advocates of New York
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
New York Public Interest Research Group
Riverkeeper
Sierra Club - Atlantic Chapter

Groups Present Blackout Prevention Measures:
A safe, reliable, and healthful energy policy

Albany, NY - Environmental and public health groups have released a plan for how New York can and must take concrete actions to prevent future blackouts. The plan calls for comprehensive planning for transmission and generation, modernization of the existing transmission system, expanded investments in energy efficiency and more incentives for clean on-site generation.

"The blackout provided a spotlight, showing New Yorkers how fallible our electric system is. New York State should act to improve reliability in ways that help meet air quality and public health goals," said Christine Vanderlan of Environmental Advocates of New York.

"The law is clear that New York can implement all of the recommendations on its own," said Jason K. Babbie of the New York Public Interest Research Group. "The fact that state agencies failed to do so sooner must be remedied immediately, because ignoring the problem can damage our economy, health and environment."

The groups demonstrated how energy policy choices, such as building power plants have serious environmental and public health implications. Power plants are New York's top source of industrial air pollution and are linked with premature death, respiratory problems and developmental disorders. In fact, analysts who work for the US Environmental Protection Agency have concluded that the fine particles from fossil fueled power plants cause 37,000 asthma attacks, 1,200 hospitalizations and 1,800 premature deaths each year in New York State.

"Analyses show that emissions from old power plants make people sick, cut short lives and drive up health care costs for all," said Peter M. Iwanowicz, Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of New York State. "We need Governor Pataki and the Legislature to create a state energy policy that modernizes the industry, thus, addressing these health impacts," continued Iwanowicz.

The groups also scolded certain industry groups for opportunistic and self-interested calls to action. Many called for more power plants to be built and a fast-tracking of the review process. Entergy used the blackout to assert that New York cannot get along without its nuclear reactors at Indian Point.

"It is despicable to use the blackout as an opportunity to create a review process for building power plant that excludes the public, ignores cumulative impacts and does not provide comprehensive planning," said Babbie. "That is what happened with deregulation and look where that got us," concluded Babbie.

"So far, New York has neglected to take the opportunity to improve the reliability of its electric distribution system through greater energy efficiency, said John Stouffer of Sierra Club, "We hope that the Legislature and the Governor do what needs to be done to maximize the efficient use of our existing energy supply rather than push new plants on communities."

It is commonly accepted that the blackout was caused by a surge in the transmission system. Information from the New York Independent System Operator, who manages the flow of electricity, confirmed that the state had more than adequate reserves of power generation.

"The blackout exposed the fundamental weaknesses in deregulation," said Clearwater's executive director, Andy Mele. "Electricity doesn't meet market criteria the way soybeans and pork bellies do. Consumers are being fleeced and the environment is suffering," concluded Mele.

The groups pointed to an example of the kind of investments that make sense for enhancing reliability of the electric grid, the proposed Empire Connection transmission line that would run from Albany to New York City. The current proposal would minimize environmental impacts by burying the lines along the Thruway corridor.

"In the wake of the most severe blackout in American history, the Empire Connection project offers a logical approach to substantially increasing New York's supply of inexpensive, reliable, and environmentally friendly power," said Alex Matthiessen, Riverkeeper's executive director. "Together with policies that encourage the repowering of existing plants, energy efficiency and conservation, and clean distributed generation, the path to energy reliability is clear."