WASHINGTON, DC-Following the Department of Energy’s decision today to deny a rehearing of its decision to designate three-quarters of Pennsylvania counties as part of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
“I am extremely disappointed by the decision, but not surprised that the Bush Administration is again showing that they are out-of-touch with Pennsylvania.
“The intransigence of the Department of Energy and its refusal to listen to the concerns of Pennsylvanians and of Pennsylvania's elected officials reinforces the need to examine DOE’s implementation of the statute and to revisit the statute itself to review the authority granted to the Department of Energy.
“To that end and since the DOE has made clear that they will not give a full hearing to the people who will have to live beneath these power lines, the oversight hearing I am pursuing in the Senate will take on added importance.
“The DOE’s decision and its refusal to listen to the concerns raised by Pennsylvanians is the exact reason why oversight hearings are needed.”
###
“I am extremely disappointed by the decision, but not surprised that the Bush Administration is again showing that they are out-of-touch with Pennsylvania.
“The intransigence of the Department of Energy and its refusal to listen to the concerns of Pennsylvanians and of Pennsylvania's elected officials reinforces the need to examine DOE’s implementation of the statute and to revisit the statute itself to review the authority granted to the Department of Energy.
“To that end and since the DOE has made clear that they will not give a full hearing to the people who will have to live beneath these power lines, the oversight hearing I am pursuing in the Senate will take on added importance.
“The DOE’s decision and its refusal to listen to the concerns raised by Pennsylvanians is the exact reason why oversight hearings are needed.”
###
