Thanks toonist

Comments

[Antonio Andolini]

Good one, toonist. Thank you.

"PSNH has tried to minimize the amount of opposition. Gary Long, president of PSNH, has said it is a mostly "not in my backyard" kind of thing. A 180 mile long transmission line scars an awful lot of back yards, with an impact on a lot of people who have put their life savings into their homes and businesses. These are Granite Staters who do not ask for a lot from their state or federal government, but who give much, who are the true New Hampshire advantage. Their interests are as important, and as legitimate, if not more so, than those of Northeast Utilities, the owner of PSNH. As importantly, opposition to the project is not just from people whose own property is affected. The project is of such a size and scope that it will have a permanent impact on the entire state. This is why opponents from all over the state have adopted a new slogan: New Hampshire is my back yard."
http://www.bluehampshire.com/diary/12843/new-hampshire-is-our-backyard

[toonist]

You're welcome AA.
I didn't realize that private businesses had the right to 'eminent domain'? Thought that kind of piracy was reserved for the US Government only?

[warren,]

Thanks toonist, "You're a Hero!". - And the Check is in the Mail.... Ha,Ha,Lol. But seriously, Maybe You should Send that one out to Valerie Herres? Pro Bono for the Cause?

[warren,]

Go Pats!

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2012/01/22/patriots_headed_back_to_super_bowl/

[warren,]

Now Comes Jeb Bradley, into the Ring with Trident and Net...

http://burynorthernpass.blogspot.com/

[warren,]

Some "Ancient" History...

http://archives.cbc.ca/society/native_issues/clips/468/

So the Cree were "bought off" and Now live with Methyl Mercury Contamination. How "Green" IS this "Cheap" electricity from Quebec? Do we really get what we pay for?

[Antonio Andolini]

The New England Power Generators Association questions number of jobs for Northern Pass:
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120123/NEWS05/701239968

[Wing Nut]

We've come to a very sad day in the State of NH if private developers are allowed to seize private property for corporate profits. I sincerely hope that eminent domain is not used for Northern Pass. Does anybody know where Senator Gallus stands on this issue?

Thanks,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

A great columnist and outdoorsman, John Harrigan, writes about Northern Pass:
"What do you do when a foreign for-profit company wants to run cheap, supposedly “green” electricity down through some of the most beautiful farm-and-forest countryside left in the Northeast — solely to make money in the lucrative southern New England market?"
http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20120122/NEWHAMPSHIRE0301/701229977

[warren,]

Hey, WN. Gallus will Support the Northern Pass. I would be more than happy to be wrong on this. But He supports ANYTHING that will provide Jobs, period.

[warren,]

Great Comment by John Harrigan, Tony. All He left out was the Methyl Mercury. I'd bet that if Quebec was not a "Left of Center" Province, politically, that We would hear more in the News about the Rape of their River Valley's. Did You ever do any research on how influential Unions are in Quebec?!!!

[Wing Nut]

Warren,

I support jobs also but not if those jobs are obtained by the violation of my Constitutional Rights and by the seizing of my personal property. To be more clear, I do not support the use of Eminent Domain by private companies. Eminent domain should be reserved for the Government, not private corporations. I'm sorry but there is something inherently wrong with private companies taking the property of private citizens so that they can profit from it. In my opinion that is Un-American. Honestly, if you had 100 acres of prime real estate in Northern NH would you be happy if Northeast Utilities took it from you to run power lines down the middle of it? If you are being honest with yourself and everyone here on this board I don't think you'd support it.

This is really bad. Let's hope Mr. Gallus is on the "right" side of this issue.

See ya,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

Here is one of the arguments to expect from the pro-Northern Pass crowd:

"A federal order issued last fall is intended to make it easier to construct transmission lines, costly and controversial projects that are notoriously tough to build.

More wires are badly needed in New England to connect customers to the region's often remote sources of renewable power, which is needed because all six states have committed to using increasing amounts of renewable energy.

To date, the grid managers who plan transmission projects have focused almost exclusively on "reliability" - whether such projects would help keep power flowing when demand is high, such as on a stifling summer day.

But as part of the new FERC order, managers also must plan transmission that helps states meet policy goals, such as increasing renewable power use."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MA_NEW_ENGLAND_POWER_NHOL-?SITE=NHCON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&__utma=1.474102739.1317760279.1326979110.1327317081.9&__utmb=1.3.10.1327317081&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1317760279.1.1.utmcsr=%28direct%29|utmccn=%28direct%29|utmcmd=%28none%29&__utmv=-&__utmk=56356523

[Antonio Andolini]

On another note, here is an analysis of what happened with Kestrel Aviation:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/01/20/business/what-can-maine-learn-from-kestrels-migration/?utm_source=BDN+News+Updates&utm_campaign=35f3584a61-RSS_BUSINESS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

[warren,]

WN, I Oppose the Northern Pass for several reasons. And I know someone who is at risk of losing their rights to a very valuble part of more than 100 acres owned. Lets wait to see how Our State Senator Votes, shall we? I will be more than happy to be wrong. So, what if the U.S. Govt. allowed the Eminant Domain? The Sectretary of Energy, Steven Chu can Sign a Presidential Permit. Am I Right?

[Antonio Andolini]

toonist, WN, to be clear, it (still) would be the government (in this case the State of New Hampshire) who claims your property for use for the benefit of the "greater good." You would be "compensated" (How do you value our North Country viewshed?), otherwise it would be an unconstitutional taking. That's eminent domain, in a nutshell.
In 2005, the US Supreme Court case of Kelo v. New London decided the question of whether the government can constitutionally claim homes and other private property for "public use," even if the government itself will not be using the property. In a 5-4 decision, (the, let's be honest, liberal wing of) the Court held that eminent domain could be used to benefit a private interest.
"The Court's opinion, written by Justice John Paul Stevens and joined by justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, and David Souter, holds that a city may claim private property under the Fifth Amendment so long as it does so as part of a clear economic development plan intended to benefit the community as a whole.
Justice Clarence Thomas joined Justice O'Connor's dissent, but argued even further. While Justice O'Connor's definition of "public use" could technically include private ownership (such as claiming land for the creation of a privately-owned hospital, for example), Justice Thomas argued that any plan to forcibly transfer property from one private owner to another under eminent domain violates the Fifth Amendment's "public use" standard."
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/freetradeopenmarkets/p/kelovlondon.htm

The NH Senate votes on Wednesday for restricting use of eminent domain.

January 17, 2012:
"The New Hampshire Senate has postponed a vote on a contentious bill aimed at restricting the use of eminent domain in building a 180-mile power line from Canada to southern New Hampshire.
The House-passed bill stems from concerns that project builder Northern Pass might use eminent domain.
The Senate was going to consider at least two competing amendments. The Judiciary Committee endorsed an amendment that would create more hurdles for developers looking to use eminent domain but does not forbid its use.
Senate President Peter Bragdon, of Milford, and Sen. Jeanie Forrester, of Meredith, proposed an amendment that expands the House version from banning transmission facilities like Northern Pass to encompass all private developments.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill Jan. 25."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Jan/17/nh_senate_postpones_eminent_domain_vote.html

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2012/01/23/nh_senate_considering_eminent_domain_restrictions/

[Antonio Andolini]

"The most controversial bill the Senate will act on in the early days of January concerns the Northern Pass transmission project. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted this month to change the wording of a House bill prohibiting the use of eminent domain for private projects to say utilities could not use the process until they have been granted permission to do so by the Public Utilities Commission.
The committee's decision was not popular with Northern Pass opponents.
However, the opponents may have a friend in the Senate president. Bragdon said he wants to ensure private property cannot be taken by a private entity such as Public Service of New Hampshire.
“It's a fundamental issue for me. It's very simple,” he said."
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111224/NEWS0604/712259959

[warren,]

Gung Hei Fat Choi! I'm off to get some Chinese Food...Oy Vey!

[Rocky]

I urge those of you who believe this eminent domain issue is important to you/to us, to get in touch with Sen. Gallus and let him know how you feel. It only takes a couple minutes and you can do it online.

[toonist]

I check around and still don't know where Gallus stands on this? Does anybody know where this cigar chomping wop (I'm Dago and can use that term) stands????

[Wing Nut]

Rocky,

I already sent a letter to Mr. Gallus expressing my feelings on this issue.

Take care,
WN

[Rocky]

That's great WN, I did too. Toonist I haven't seen anything about Gallus's position, but my gut feeling is that he would support any position backed by PSNH, he's petty much out of the same mold as Paul Grenier. He like many politicians, use the jobs angle or "helping the people" line to mask what's advantageous to big money.

[warren,]

"There is No right way to do the Wrong Thing". This 15 minute video from Colebrook is from March of last year. The NP news is over by 10:40 min. You WILL find out where NH Sen. John Gallus Stands on the Northern Pass by 3:30 min!!!! Essentially, He will be there to hand out band aids to folks like the Woman is the Bathtub in toonists Toon. Watch and Listen for Yourself....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPRBbSBGjl8

[Antonio Andolini]

In response to the Kelo decision, the New Hampshire Constitution was amended.

[Art.] 12-a. [Power to Take Property Limited.] No part of a person's property shall be taken by eminent domain and transferred, directly or indirectly, to another person if the taking is for the purpose of private development or other private use of the property.
November 7, 2006

NH House Bill 648, passed in March 2011, amended state law to clarify that, "No public utility may petition for permission to take private land or property rights for the construction or operation of an electric generating plant or a transmission facility so long as the transmission facility is not needed for system reliability."

Now, it's up to the NH Senate. There are two possible amendments.
The Bragdon-Forrester amendment states that, "“no public utility may petition for permission to take private land or property rights for the construction or operation of an electric generating plant or for any private development, including but not limited to participant·funded projects.”
http://responsibleenergyaction.com/pages/612

The Bradley-Carson amendment allows eminent domain by private transmission lines if the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) finds that the transmission project “is necessary for system reliability in this state, or provides a means of lowering electricity costs in this state, or provides environmental benefits in this state.”
http://responsibleenergyaction.com/pages/category/the-real-view

Paul Grenier, as Berlin Mayor and County Commissioner, sent a "Letter to the Editor", published in newspapers throughout the state, supporting the Bradley-Carson version.

Let Senator Gallus know you believe in private property rights and that he should vote for the Bragdon-Forrester amendment. If you contacted him already (thank you) consider doing so again to clarify you support the Bragdon-Forrester amendment.

This is much more than a Northern Pass issue.
http://responsibleenergyaction.com/pages/636

[warren,]

I never did like Jeb Bradley's ( OR Charlie Bass' and John E. Sununu's ) Voting Records back before McCain/ Feingold made it Illegal to Talk about Voting Records.... Seig Heil and all that loss of Freedom, eh Tony?