Tom Reed
CORNING – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) is defending his support for a project that would import electricity and power from Canada to the Northeastern part of the United States. During his weekly conference call with the media, the Corning Republican told WRFA he supports the Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission Line because it will help to reduce the cost of power throughout New York State and the 23rd Congressional District, thus creating a greater incentive for manufacturers and other businesses to come into the area.
Reed was recently criticized by his opponent, Nate Shinagawa (D-Ithaca), who said that Reed’s support of the Canadian Transmission line project hurts local investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, shifting the responsibility and the benefits to Canadian workers. He also said the Canadian Transmission Line project undermines the $700 million, PowerUpWNY effort to get the NRG Power building in Dunkirk converted to producing electricity generated by natural gas, rather than coal.
Reed has already come up in support of the NRG project, pledging to do what he can to help keep the privately owned energy producing power plant open and on the local tax roles. He also said that it is actually his opponent who is undermining PowerUpWNY by opposing the increase of natural gas dependence in the district.
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