Two New York Congressmen, whose amendment to curtail a federal agency’s ability to implement a new capacity zone passed the House of Representatives last week, say they are hopeful after comments by the Senate majority leader.
Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Republican Congressman Chris Gibson say they are encouraged by comments made earlier this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who told CQ Roll Call newspaper the two nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would review the agency’s decision to implement a new capacity zone in the Hudson Valley. The capacity zone was implemented May 1 and has already raised electric rates for thousands of residents and small business owners. Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told the paper that he has discussed the capacity zone with FERC nominees Norman Bay and FERC’s acting chairwoman Cheryl LaFleur. The senator was quoted as saying both nominees would “take a hard look at it.”
