Letters

Power plan disaster for the environment

I disagree with the editorial that endorsed constructing the Champlain Hudson Power Express as a “useful start” to greening New York’s energy supply and “jump-start(ing)” the state’s economy (“A way back to prosperity,” May 31).

A 333-mile voltage transmission corridor, the Champlain Hudson Power Express would traverse eastern New York from the Quebec border to New York City. Much of it would be buried in trenches under Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, but 100-plus miles would be buried along railroad and road right-of-ways in Clinton, Washington, Saratoga, Schenectady, Albany, Greene and Rockland counties. Champlain Hudson Power Express would cross many rivers, streams and wetlands.

If this power line is ever built, many hundreds of millions of dollars would depart the state each year to Canada to purchase the electricity. Exporting the state’s wealth is a bad economic policy. Much better would be to keep the state’s wealth recirculating within New York. Champlain Hudson Power Express would cost a minimum $3 billion but provide only a few hundred temporary construction and 26 permanent jobs. Investing the same amount on energy conservation and efficiency and appropriately sited solar and wind generation would produce more than 100 times as many in-state jobs.

Champlain Hudson

Power Express would be an environmental disaster. It would stimulate the additional construction of river-wrecking hydroelectric development in Quebec and Labrador. Formerly spectacular freeflowing rivers are being blocked and transformed into dams, power stations and giant reservoirs for the export of electricity to New York and New England states. The damages to water quality, climate, wildlife and human health are enormous. tom ellis

Make polluters cover cost of the damage

In the long run, the effects of greenhouse gases on the planet may be more lethal than COVID-19 will be. We need to find ways to confront both crises.

In “Hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its pollution,” June 15, Liz Moran points out that the federal government continues rolling back environmental regulations while the current pandemic has emptied the state’s coffers. Therefore, when it has the least resources to do so, the state is on its own to protect the environment.

Why not, Moran suggests, make the industries that are causing environmental damage pay at least some of New York’s $3 billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act, to be voted on in November? This is an opportunity to make polluters cover the costs of the bond rather than taxpayers entirely footing the bill.

This was done before, in 1986, with Gov. Mario Cuomo’s Environmental Quality Bond Act, which required polluters to pay for damages to the environment. Our current governor could continue his father’s legacy with the current bond, a needed aid worth trying.

Barbara Burge

Closing Lark gives restaurants traction

As a Lark Street area resident, I wholeheartedly agree with Jason Dinovi’s Viewpoint “Closing Lark Street would open new way of living,” June 30.

Everyone with whom I have spoken regarding this very idea of closing Lark Street to cars also agrees. The alternative is to block off sidewalks for restaurants, forcing pedestrians to navigate automobile traffic, which is at best poorly thought out and at worst dangerous. It’s time for some fresh thinking. Let’s help Lark restaurants get back on their feet.

Padraic Bambrick