Since late last year, residents across Westchester County have witnessed, with disbelief, the disappearance of the natural landscape that has shielded homes and properties from exposure for decades. In the days following the removal of broad swaths of vegetation with chainsaws, the lush greenery that had always been there was gone and left behind were areas littered with debris and the stumps of trees.

Our local utility has been in the midst of implementing an “enhanced vegetation management” program, which aimed to “maintain” the growth of flora along high-voltage power lines (or transmission lines) that ran adjacent to residential properties. Most trees, shrubs and brush growing within a certain distance of the miles and miles of length in power lines were removed, under the auspices of preventing potential power outages in the case of a severe weather emergency. While I understand that maintenance is, of course, necessary to prevent crisis, nevertheless, most homeowners impacted by this planning had no prior knowledge of the extent of this tree-trimming program, nor were they afforded the opportunity to express their concerns or opinions about the impact of this plan on their properties, until the damage had already been done.

My office has received hundreds of phone calls, letters and e-mail messages from constituents concerned about the diminished value of their properties as well as their quality of life. Many residents have lived along a high-traffic parkway that was once naturally barricaded by acres of trees, but now, the clear-cutting of the trees has exposed their homes to environmental side effects and severe noise, light and air pollution.

After hosting community forums, touring impacted areas and discussing this issue with my colleagues in the Legislature, it was apparent to me that this was an issue of concern for New Yorkers statewide. As such, I introduced legislation (S7962B) that not only addresses the need for communication between utility companies and property owners, but also the importance of public participation in the process, in order to fully appreciate and articulate the impact of clear-cutting near their properties. This local-option bill ensures that utility companies are accountable to the public by requiring a public briefing prior to the commencement of vegetation management activities. This also provides a forum for homeowners to ask their questions and voice their concerns, and provides a critical component for mitigating future damages that might occur if the result of the activities do not mirror the plan that is presented by the utility company.

Since I introduced this legislation, the Public Service Commission, which regulates utility companies, opened a proceeding to reevaluate their policies related to tree-cutting along the high-voltage transmission lines throughout the state. They cited the proposed legislation and efforts by local residents as influential in their decision to open this proceeding. The public-comment period closed on June 16, and I am looking forward to the results of this review.

Our utilities provide essential services to New York homes and businesses, and it is critical that power utilities are able to supply our power with safety and reliability. However, we must balance that necessity with the right of the public to have an opportunity to measure the environmental and quality-of-life impact in our communities. This legislation achieves that balance, and I look forward to it becoming law.


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Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat representing parts of Westchester, is chair of the Senate Committee on Local Governments.