More Distruptive
Dear David,
There has been gross misinformation swirling about from those who attempt to stop the export cable from landing at Beach Lane in Wainscott. Their claim is that “multiple other alternatives exist” and that they are somehow less impactful to the environment. These alternative landing spots extolled by the geologists paid for by the Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott are, in fact, significantly more disruptive to our town.
The fact is (and they know it) that six beach landings were formally evaluated in the Article VII alternatives analysis. One of the six included Atlantic Avenue Beach, which is claimed by C.P.W. to be less disruptive. Under this alternative, the cable would go up Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett to the railroad track, cross under the railroad track several times on its westerly journey and then go behind the East Hampton Middle School before it made its way to the substation at Cove Hollow. Let’s look at one metric of the proposed alternative: distance. The terrestrial distance of the Atlantic Avenue route is 5.2 miles. The distance to the substation from Wainscott Beach is 4.1 miles. And if you subtract the distance the cable will travel into East Hampton Town property, the total distance in Wainscott is 3.24 miles.
If this does not persuade you, please read the following from the reply briefs from the New York State Department of Public Service: “C.P.W.’s argument that the Applicant is statutorily obligated to consider its alternatives, and that C.P.W.’s alternatives are preferable from environmental and public safety standpoints, is not only a misapplication of the Public Service Law, but ignores the insurmountable deficiencies in C.P.W.’s proposed alternatives.” I think it’s important that you read that again: “insurmountable deficiencies in C.P.W.’s proposed alternatives.”
Moreover, the Amagansett route would add many months, as much as an additional year, to the construction period at a time when catastrophic climate change demands urgent action.
Here is the mission statement from the New York State Department of Public Service: “The primary mission of the New York State Department of Public Service is to ensure affordable, safe, secure, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers, while protecting the natural environment.”
Thank you,
JUDITH HOPE