Local Lawmakers Ask Gov To Intervene on Power Line Project

Add Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) and Assemb. Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) to the growing number of voices  – including Keep the North Shore Beautiful and Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington – that are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to intervene on the PSEG Long Island power line installation project.

The project comprises a five-mile overhead transmission line between Great Neck and Port Washington.

And while residents and local leaders want to put a holt to the project, PSEGLI has said that in assessing customer demand, the utility’s reliability engineers determined that there was a critical need for new transmission circuits to reliably serve customers now, a PSEG Long Island said.

But many are speaking out on the impact the new utility poles, which can reach up to 80 feet in height, will have on the quality of life and character of the community.

Martins and Schimel point to a similar project in East Hampton that raised concerns to its residents. There, Cuomo directed the chairwoman of the State’s Public Service Commission (PSC) to intercede with PSEG-Long Island. The PSC now has a Long Island based customer service unit to handle issues related to PSEG-Long Island.  Martins and Schimel have asked Cuomo to direct the commission to take the same steps on behalf of local residents that it did for East Hampton residents.

“Although we understand that PSEG is hardening the transmission system to ensure greater reliability, it must be balanced against the short and long term impacts to the community,” Martins said, in a press release. “Working together with other local elected officials, including Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, we’ve called upon the Governor to help make that happen.” said Senator Martins.

“The installation of 80 foot poles and the aggressive tree trimming associated with this project has greatly impacted the residential and commercial areas of Port Washington,” Schimel said. “Given the nature of this project, I strongly believe that PSEG should have convened public forums in the affected communities prior to the start of the project. It is my hope that with all the stakeholders we can arrive at some alternatives that will lessen the impact of this project on the Port Washington community,” said Assemblywoman Schimel.

Residents for A More Beautiful Port Washington is urging the community to share and sign a letter to Cuomo against the project. Keep the North Shore Beautiful has issued a Change.org pettion to stop the project, and by Friday afternoon already had nearly 1,100 signatures.