Schumer fights for power in Green Island

GREEN ISLAND - U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is trying to use his influence to help Green Island in a power struggle with the federal government.

The issue concerns the Cohoes Falls. It's a power play in the literal sense - a small community's municipal power authority taking on a little-known, but extremely truculent federal commission.

All the rain we've been getting is keeping the water flowing pretty vigorously as the Mohawk River plunges 70 feet over the falls.

Early in the last century some of the power of that falling water was harnessed when a 38 megawatt electricity plant was built. It's still in operation, now owned by Brookfield Renewal Power, which is the latest in a string of companies benefiting from mainly year-by-year license renewals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"We want to end about two decades of bureaucratic wrangling that's prevented us from capitalizing on an opportunity that could mean big things for the Capital Region," Schumer said.

Even with the support of Schumer and then-Rep. Michael McNulty, Green Island wasn't even able to get its application to construct its own power plant at Cohoes considered by the federal commission. That is until a court decision finding that FERC had been arbitrary and capricious in not allowing Green Island to apply for a license.

Schumer and the Green Island contingent argue a new plant would produce nearly three times as much power, keep water flowing over the falls 365 days a year, improve tourism and lower the cost of electricity to tens of thousands of area customers.

"And we've all seen how low cost power can continue to bring us jobs here," Schumer said.

Nothing would prevent the current operator, Brookfield, from applying for a new permit as well. Although, it's expected there would be only one granted at Cohoes.

Schumer and the Green Island Power Authority argue that Brookfield and the previous owners have had an unfair advantage since 1991 when the last uncontested 40-year license to produce power along the river expired.