New York's power plant siting law expired in 2002.Key lawmakers are sending positive signals that the Albany gridlock over power-plant siting legislation may soon be easing.

According to the Crain's Insider (subscription), Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and Sen. George Maziarz -- who head the energy committees in their respective houses -- say that the prospects for Article X reform are improving. Cahill told the Insider that he is willing to be flexible on some thorny issues, like an intervenor fund that would use siting fees for local environmental impact studies. The fund was included in the Assembly's budget bill.

"I'm willing to accommodate them by treating some of these issues separately," he said -- provided that the energy lobby is also willing to compromise.

Article X reform is a prominent issue in NYLCV's 2008 State Policy Agenda.