Sharing this information prepared by concerned resident Shaun Brown:

“The Emerald Necklace, the Finger Lakes’ most significant conservation project, is facing a proposal that could permanently alter its landscape and skyline.
The NYSEG FLAIR Project, a transmission line rebuild and uprate, proposes replacing the existing wooden H-frame structures—averaging 50 feet in height—with 100-foot steel monopoles. These industrial-scale structures would rise above the tree canopy and become visible from trails, parks, and scenic corridors stretching from the Town of Montour to the Town of Ithaca.
Designated by New York State as an Open Space Regional Priority Conservation Project, the Emerald Necklace was established to preserve landscapes, wildlife corridors, and scenic integrity across the region. The “Emeralds” comprise of state parks, a national forest, a wildlife management area, and conserved lands that are interconnected by the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Finger Lakes Trail. As a whole, the Necklace serves a regional greenbelt whose value lies in its connectivity.
By introducing 100-foot industrial-scale structures into the Emerald Necklace, the FLAIR Project risks fragmenting the landscape and its viewsheds. “Emeralds” of the necklace that are traversed by the project include: Connecticut Hill WMA, Thayer Preserve, Buttermilk Falls State Park, with significant impacts projected for Havana Glen Park, Tapan Mitra Preserve, the Odessa-Hector Rail Trail, and portions of the Finger Lakes Trail.
While infrastructure reliability is a legitimate public need, its implementation within a state-designated conservation area demands a higher standard of care—one that recognizes that once the skyline and sense of scale are altered, those losses cannot be undone.
The FLAIR Project’s proposed conductor adds an avoidable height to structures. The proposed Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) wire heats up at 93°C, in which it starts to sag. The maximum sag of the wire will exceed 30 feet, necessitating taller poles to incorporate the height of that sag.
However, alternative technologies exist that could reduce these impacts, which have not been evaluated within NYSEG’s application. High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors can reach temperatures over 200°C before sagging and even then the sag is significantly less.
These conductors are also more efficient and will have less line loss compared to ACSR. By minimizing sag, HTLS technology could allow for shorter structures, reducing visual intrusion and fragmentation across the Necklace while providing reliable, more efficient service.
The Emerald Necklace belongs to the entire Finger Lakes community. Residents, visitors, and stakeholders who value this regional greenbelt are encouraged to submit a public
Comment to the New York State Public Service Commission by March 26, 2026. Public participation ensures that the Commission fully considers scenic integrity, ecological connectivity, and the long-term public interest when evaluating the FLAIR Project.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The NYSEG FLAIR Project proposes rebuilding and uprating transmission line 982 which traverses through the Emerald Necklace, a New York State Open Space Regional Priority Conservation Project within the Finger Lakes. The FLAIR Project seeks to replace existing wooden H-frame structures, averaging 50 feet in height, with 100-foot steel monopoles. The public’s involvement is crucial to ensure that the project does not harm the scenic and recreational resources valued by the community and so that alternative technologies which could minimize impacts are fully considered.
Action Items:
• Submit Public Comments: Share your concerns about the FLAIR Project with the New York
State Public Service Commission (PSC). Comments must be submitted by March 26, 2026.
• Include Key Points: Highlight potential impacts on scenic and recreational resources and suggest considerations of alternatives like Hight-Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors to reduce visual impacts.
• How to Submit: Use the PSC’s online comment portal. https://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?MatterCaseNo=24-T-0710
• Spread the Word: Encourage friends, neighbors, and community members to participate. Share information through social media, email, or community network.

““I commend Sen. Krueger and Assemblymember Kelles for listening to New Yorkers,” says Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian. “This bill not only safeguards our shared future here in New York, but sets a powerful precedent for states across the nation.” … “Communities across New York are being inundated with data centers at a faster pace than we can imagine,” Taylor adds. “These facilities pose a real threat to the environment and public health of residents, especially when communities are denied the transparent information and resources they need to understand the risks and protect themselves.”