December 10,2001 - Comments before the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

I am Edna Sussman, the executive Director of Federated Conservationists of Westchester County. FCWC is a 36 year old not-for-profit coalition dedicated to the protection of this region's natural resources and the education of the public. I am here to speak in support of the resolution to call on Columbia Gas to end the Millennium Pipeline at the Bowline facility pending results of both a feasibility study on conversion of Indian Point and the development of a regional energy plan. In the absence of a regional energy plan, we take no position on the call to deny approval of the 8 natural gas units proposed at Indian Point.

In remarks we made at Teatown Lake Reservation last June in connection with the Millennium Pipeline, we called for the equivalent of an energy master plan for the region. The time has truly come and we applaud this body for identifying this need. Energy infrastructure in our settled community is fraught with difficulties and carries with it severe environmental costs. We cannot continually be called upon, as we have been, to respond to one energy infrastructure question after another without a context within which to make a sensible assessment. The resolution soundly defers the decision on the entry of the Millennium Pipeline into Westchester until such an analysis is concluded. Consistent with the approach of decision making within the context of a complete regional energy plan, we would respectfully suggest that the language of the resolution be broadened so that the feasibility study requested for the Indian Point conversion consider conversion not only to natural gas but also to other forms of energy.

The State of New York's 1998 Energy Plan was based on the premise, and I quote, "In a properly functioning market, participants should be able to determine when and where generation or demand reduction measures are needed to meet customer needs." This premise must be reexamined before a new state energy plan is issued next year. As the energy market has been developing, it is apparent that it is not enough to rely on market forces alone to maximize the public good. Energy does not appear to be the perfectly functioning market laid out in economics 101; even if it were, the social and environmental cost of such an energy market is proving to be unacceptable. A plan is essential, with a regional needs analysis and recommendations as to how to satisfy those needs over several time intervals, i.e. 5, 10 and 15 years out, and in the context of different economic scenarios. Only then can methodologies be determined to achieve the essential twin goals of economical reliable energy and environmental protection.

The energy conversation to date has focused on the siting of new power plants to increase the availability of energy. A master plan is needed to refocus that conversation and ensure that a balance is achieved that includes not only new power plants but also encourages reducing demand by increasing efficiency, conservation, load management, using renewable energy sources, fostering the generation of clean power on site, and reviews transmission systems. New York State's energy bill in 1999 was $30.9 billion dollars. That much money should not be spent without a planning framework to assist in rationally guiding the development of the energy market towards a sustainable future.