Bill Clinton: “I rise to introduce a legislation to restore operation of the Cross Sound Cable. I was dismayed to learn last Friday…”

“I rise to introduce a legislation to restore operation of the Cross Sound Cable. I was dismayed to learn last Friday that the Secretary of Energy had issued an order that effectively shut down the Cross Sound Cable. The cable had been operating since Secretary Abraham issued an order directing that the cable be turned on almost immediately after the August 14, 2003 blackout. I believe that last Friday's decision is shortsighted, and I am extremely concerned that it will put Long Island at immediate risk of power failures as we enter the summer peak demand months. The Cross Sound Cable has provided proven reliability benefits at a time when a shortage of generation and transmission facilities continues to exist on Long Island and in Southern New England. The Cross Sound Cable transmitted 300 MW of power over the Blackout weekend, enough to turn on the power in about 300,000 homes on Long Island. Since beginning full-time operation on September 1, 2003, the Cross Sound Cable has transmitted nearly one-half million megawatt-hours of electricity to help provide sufficient power to prevent more blackouts or brownouts on the island. Additionally, the extra power from the Cable makes more power available on Long Island to export over another submarine cable into Southwestern Connecticut when needed, thereby making the regional power grid more resilient.”