| State Senator David J. Cappiello, R-Danbury,
today said that he is troubled by the Connecticut Siting Council’s
decision to conduct an evidentiary hearing regarding the construction
of new overhead transmission lines extending from Norwalk
to Bethel. The hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, December
2nd and continuing through Friday, December 6th, comes at
a time when approval of such transmission lines is under moratorium.
“There is a reason we fought so hard for this moratorium,
and for the Siting Council to move forward with a public
hearing at this time when such a measure is in effect is
deeply concerning to me,” said Sen. Cappiello. “Under
the legislation we passed earlier this year, a comprehensive
evaluation is already being undertaken by the Institute
for Sustainable Energy. This study is looking into everything
from the environmental and economic impacts to the reliability
and operational feasibility of such lines.”
According to Sen. Cappiello, who co-sponsored the moratorium
legislation, the act prohibits any state agency from granting
final approval for applications and pending applications
relating to existing transmission lines from Bethel to Norwalk
until February 1, 2003. It also requires the Institute for
Sustainable Energy to report its findings and recommendations
by January 1, 2003.
“That’s where the trouble
lies. It is disturbing to me that the Siting Council feels
it can move forward with the process without any knowledge
of the findings of this study,” said Sen. Cappiello.
“One of reasons the moratorium was put in place was
the fact that many people thought that the Siting Council
overlooked many issues including health and environmental
concerns when making their initial decision.”
“It is my belief that the Siting
Council should reconsider holding these hearings. Going
forward with these hearings would seem counterproductive.
The intent of the law was to take a step back so that all
questions regarding the power lines could be answered before
anything else was done,” said Sen. Cappiello. |
