Local Topics: NYRI
New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) is a privately held conglomerate proposing to build a 200 mile, 400,000 volt electrical tranmission line cutting through the heart of Central New York. The lines are widely considered to be private interest and NYRI has admitted that they will raise electric rates in Upstate NY.
NYRI in the News
PSC rules NYRI application deficient again
CHENANGO COUNTY – It’s back to the drawing board again for New York Regional Interconnect Inc., according to a letter the company received Monday from the state’s top power li... read more...
Cuomo: Energy corridors are illegal, detrimental to upstate
ALBANY – The state’s Attorney General filed a legal challenge Monday in Manhattan requesting that the court review the federal government’s National Interest Electric Transmis... read more...
NYRI: Negative impact on property values unlikely
NORWICH – Studies vary on the impact of power lines on nearby property values, according to local experts and a report in New York Regional Interconnect’s latest application f... read more...
NYRI: Power line will reduce wholesale energy costs
NORWICH – Two years ago, New York Regional Interconnect said its power line would raise electricity rates upstate. New studies now show NYRI’s power line would not only lower... read more...
NYRI re-files application studies today, opponents say ‘bring it on’
NORWICH – So far, only one project has ever been denied by the state under the Article VII power line review process. NYSEG’s Brothertown Road power line was denied in the mi... read more...
NYRI: What about Marcy South?
NORWICH – The Marcy-South transmission corridor isn’t wide enough to support the New York Regional Interconnect power line, a spokesman for the New York Power Authority said F... read more...
NYRI petition denied
NORWICH – The state denied a petition Wednesday filed by NYRI requesting that it overturn or uphold a law blocking the power line company’s use of eminent domain, an official ... read more...
Anti-NYRI group gets nearly half-million from senate for power line fight
NORWICH – Communities Against Regional Interconnect, the eight-county alliance taking on the NYRI power line, today received $418,000 of $1 million in state money first promis... read more...
Will changes at PSC affect NYRI?
ALBANY – A change in leadership at the state’s top power line authority shouldn’t impact the New York Regional Interconnect Inc. case, say officials in Albany and spokesmen bo... read more...
NBT makes significant donation to NYRI fight
NORWICH – Recognizing that the NYRI power-line project would irretrievably change the landscape of and bring economic hardship to Chenango and Madison counties, NBT Bank has d... read more...
NYRI has dampened holiday for one family
NORWICH – Christmas Eve always meant that much more to Rick and Betsy Mahannah – exactly 30 years ago today they moved into their house in Woods Corners. But Christmas hasn’t... read more...
NYRI: We need eminent domain
NORWICH – The president of New York Regional Interconnect says the company may abandon its $1.6 billion power line project unless the state rules it has the right to take priv... read more...
NYRI: We won't force people from their homes
ALBANY – New York Regional Interconnect claims it won’t need to force people from their homes and businesses in order to build its power line, according to a petition it filed... read more...
NYRI petitions state power line authority to rule on eminent domain law
ALBANY – New York Regional Interconnect Inc. announced Monday that it has petitioned the state’s top power line authority to make a judgment on the constitutionality of a law ... read more...
Feds to reopen energy corridor case
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy announced Tuesday that it will re-open the debate on a controversial energy policy that could fast-track power line projects like NY... read more...
NYC papers call out state officials, upstate residents on energy policy
NORWICH – Recent editorials in two New York City newspapers criticizing state power line policy say the federal government’s designation of controversial energy corridors is “... read more...
State heavyweights challenge Washington’s ‘energy corridors’
CHENANGO COUNTY – Washington’s newly-acquired authority to take over the New York Regional Interconnect power line case, and others like it, is unwarranted and founded on wate... read more...
NYRI challenges setbacks, will continue to push power line forward
NORWICH – Despite a recent legal setback and the release of two energy reports that claim its $1.6 billion power line “need not be implemented” to prevent future black-outs an... read more...
NYRI lawsuit dismissal could force power line to seek approval in Washington
CHENANGO COUNTY – Unless overturned, the dismissal Friday of a lawsuit filed by NYRI challenging what it claims is an unfair state law could ultimately force the company to ta... read more...
Lawsuit against anti-NYRI law thrown out
ALBANY – A federal judge ruled Friday that New York Regional Interconnect Inc. has no case against the legislators who changed a state law last year to prohibit the power line... read more...
Power Grid: Are more lines needed?
PRINCETON, NJ – The organization that sets the standards for the nation’s power grid released a report last week stating that more transmission lines will be needed if the cou... read more...
Washington can expect lawsuits challenging energy corridor policy
CHENANGO COUNTY – Energy officials in Washington can expect legal challenges to be brought against a recent federal policy that could breath life into the New York Regional In... read more...
Feds say most power line reviews will continue to be handled by state
CHENANGO COUNTY – Although the federal government has given itself the right to overtake a state’s power line review authority, a spokeswoman for the Federal Energy Regulatory... read more...
Feds designate energy corridor
WASHINGTON – Most of the state and the entire length of New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s proposed power line now rests in one of the two “National Interest Electric Tran... read more...
NYRI’s project gets a boost from Washington
WASHINGTON – Chenango County and all 190 miles of New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s proposed power line route now fall within a “National Interest Transmission Corridor.” ... read more...
Although not needed, NYRI camp says power line will improve energy reliability
CHENANGO COUNTY – Just because the state’s electricity operator says the project isn’t needed, that doesn’t mean New York Regional Interconnect’s 400,000 volt power line – if ... read more...
State’s top grid operator: NYRI power line not needed
CHENANGO COUNTY – The federally-regulated agency that oversees the state’s electricity grid says New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s $1.6 power line project isn’t needed to ... read more...
History to play a large role in NYRI opposition
NORWICH – They may not be considered the prettiest in some academic circles, but that doesn’t mean the historic sites of Chenango County aren’t significant, says Jessie Ravage... read more...
Still no date for power line review
CHENANGO COUNTY – Over a year after starting the process, a date for resuming the state’s review of the $1.6 billion high voltage power line threatening the hills of Chenango ... read more...
NYRI lawsuit continues in September
ALBANY – Initial proceedings in a lawsuit filed by New York Regional Interconnect Inc. claiming the power line developer has been discriminated against by the state will conti... read more...
Another anti-NYRI bill introduced in Washington
WASHINGTON – Another bill aimed at weakening Washington’s influence in the fate of New York Regional Interconnect’s power line was introduced Tuesday in the Senate by Senators... read more...
Schumer talks local, national issues during Norwich visit
NORWICH – Senator Charles Schumer kept the mood light Thursday during his visit to Norwich, despite addressing some of the heavy issues facing Chenango County and the nation. ... read more...
Arcuri’s anti-NYRI amendment fails
WASHINGTON – Legislation that would have stopped power line companies from using federal authority to take private property died Saturday on the Assembly floor. The amendment... read more...
Alternative energy, jobs and NYRI among the hot topics at Lobsterfest
NORWICH – On Sunday, the Canasawacta Country Club pavilion was filled with politicians and local residents wanting to discuss the issues most important to them. Among the cr... read more...
Stats show Chenango home sales down more than 30 percent
NORWICH - The number of homes sold in Chenango County dropped 34.1 percent over the last year, according to statistics from the New York State Association of Realtors. Sales d... read more...
Amendment slips by, could expand energy corridors
WASHINGTON – Nearly three weeks ago an amendment that appears to strengthen a controversial power line policy was slipped into a popular piece of federal energy legislation. ... read more...
Citizens compile list of local properties affected by NYRI
NORWICH – More than a thousand property owners in Chenango County would be either displaced or lose land through eminent domain if the New York Regional Interconnect power lin... read more...
More businesses looking at Town of Norwich
NORWICH – From power lines to flood recovery to attracting new businesses, the town board had a full agenda to attend to at Monday’s meeting. In a letter received by the boa... read more...
DOE will move forward with corridor designations
WASHINGTON – Chenango County will be one step closer to disaster if New York Regional Interconnect’s power line route becomes part of a National Interest Electric Transmission... read more...
Alteren reps ramp-up ad
NORWICH – Lacking any assurance that the New York Regional Interconnect power line will go away, officials representing the Alteren resort project are running advertisements s... read more...
Senator Clinton joins Schumer’s push to stop NYRI
WASHINGTON – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) said she’ll fully support fellow New York Democrat Senator Charles Schumer’s anti-New York Regional Interconnect bill when C... read more...
Schumer announce bill to keep NYRI a state fight
CHENANGO COUNTY – Opponents of New York Regional Interconnect’s $1.6 power line proposal say they can beat the Canadian energy developer if the fight stays in-state and out of... read more...
Both sides of power line issue see House vote as a win
WASHINGTON – Congress defeated an amendment Wednesday, 257 to 174, that would have blocked funding for a controversial federal energy corridor program that fast-track’s the co... read more...
Arcuri continues fight against NYRI
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) continued his quest against New York Regional Interconnect Wednesday, telling Congress that the designation of energy... read more...
Historic sites on NYRI’s route some of nation’s “most endangered”
NORWICH – The historic sites within a group of power line hot spots on the East Coast – including the communities threatened by New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s $1.6 bill... read more...
Town passes anti-NYRI law
NORWICH – Norwich’s town board passed a local law Monday that would block the permitting and construction of direct current power lines for the next five years. Local Law #1 ... read more...
Anti-power line sentiments exist across the U.S.
CHENANGO COUNTY – The controversy surrounding a federal energy policy that could fast-track massive power line projects isn’t exclusive to New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’... read more...
NYRI pushes back start of its final review
NORWICH – The opposition to New York Regional Interconnect Inc. has been waiting nearly a year for the power line developer to undergo – for the second time – its official rev... read more...
Arcuri visits Norwich to give update on NYRI fight
NORWICH – A crowd of about 100 attended a public meeting Saturday at the Norwich Fire House to protest the federal government’s potential use of eminent domain, a law that wou... read more...
Impact of power plant bill on NYRI unclear
ALBANY – Lawmakers in Albany passed legislation last week that would once again streamline New York state’s authority to permit the construction of power generation facilities... read more...
Arcuri to hold public hearing on power line issues
NORWICH – With no public hearings scheduled within 140 miles of where a controversial federal policy would assist the New York Regional Interconnect power line to be built, Co... read more...
NYRI demonstrators encouraged by hearing
NEW YORK CITY – Members of the local power line opposition say they were encouraged Wednesday by the turnout and the testimony at a hearing in Manhattan addressing a controver... read more...
Protesters call on Washington, Spitzer to reconsider corridor
NEW YORK CITY – With their calls also directed toward Albany, a group of area residents are in New York City today protesting the New York Regional Interconnect power line an... read more...
Stop NYRI Rally: Citizens needed now more than ever to stop power line
SHERBURNE – The New York Regional Interconnect power line is not a done deal – not even close – a group of area citizens and elected officials told a crowd of 70-plus anti-read more...
Stop NYRI rally Saturday
SHERBURNE – The public is invited to a rally sponsored by the Stop NYRI citizens group from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in... read more...
NYRI brings on new investor
CHENANGO COUNTY – A Toronto-based investment firm – whose partners include the Canadian government at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels – has signed-on to back the... read more...
NYRI hire seeks information on local towns
CHENANGO COUNTY – A consulting firm working for New York Regional Interconnect Inc. made calls in the last two weeks to at least two local townships requesting information on ... read more...
Stop NYRI rally planned for May 19
SHERBURNE – Join STOP NYRI in celebrating one year’s active opposition to NYRI 400,000 volt powerline project. Participan... read more...
Railroad or no railroad? Fate still up in air
NORWICH – Discussions continued this month between Chenango County and New York Susquehanna & Western Railway executives as local economic developers struggled to hang onto ra... read more...
Feds target Chenango for energy corridor
CHENANGO COUNTY – Forty-seven counties in New York state – including all eight that could play host to the New York Regional Interconnect Inc. power line – have been tagged to... read more...
Anti-NYRI case heard in Washington
CHENANGO COUNTY – A national energy official and several other witnesses representing state and national agencies were questioned during a hearing Wednesday on Capital Hill as... read more...
Good news for NYRI? Chenango named to Dept. of Energy list
CHENANGO COUNTY – In a draft report issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, Chenango County has been listed as part of a preliminary National Interest Electric Transmission C... read more...
Arcuri and others to question validity of NYRI and federal energy law today
CHENANGO COUNTY – Players with private and public interest in the nation’s energy policy are meeting this afternoon in Washington to examine the need for federal involvement i... read more...
The American dream ... derailed
By Kathleen Yasas Correspondent SHERBURNE – Unlike many residents of Chenango County, Cindy Carter and Kit Enscoe were not born and raised here. Cindy grew up in communities... read more...
NYRI extends $1.5 million to railroad for land rights
CHENANGO COUNTY – According to a recently released five-year option agreement between New York Regional Interconnect Inc. and the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad, the ... read more...
County funds lawsuit against power line
NORWICH - Lawmakers amended a resolution tabled last month that would have authorized $5,000 to Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI) for legal expenses in the figh... read more...
We are the "Nothings" of Central New York
CHENANGO COUNTY – New York Regional Interconnect refers to the path along the Marcy railroad track as a no-man’s land, but a closer look reveals that vast expanses of land are... read more...
Congressman Arcuri reconnects with locals; shares stance on farm bill, NYRI
NORWICH - U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri was humored Wednesday when told a New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. one-year anniversary cake would be featured on this news... read more...
One year later, NYRI power line still has big impact
CHENANGO COUNTY – It’s been 365 days since Woods Corners resident Betsy Mahannah and her family first received the troubling news that their home of 33 years might be taken f... read more...
NYRI Timeline
Time line of New York Regional Interconnect power line developments. 2003: NYRI project is conceptualized and takes form... read more...
Arcuri's NYRI measure passes
CHENANGO COUNTY – Legislation tightening nationwide transportation security that passed through Congress Tuesday included an amendment requiring the federal government to inve... read more...
Arcuri introduces amendment to investigate safety risks of NYRI power line
CHENANGO COUNTY – An amendment introduced by Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) that would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to evaluate the safety of running... read more...
Downstate needs electricity, but maybe not power lines
CHENANGO COUNTY – The agency in charge of operating the state’s electricity grid re-affirmed Monday that energy needs downstate, if unanswered, could create reliability issues... read more...
Railroad may want more money
NORWICH – A state economic development agency claims the New York Susquehanna & Western railroad has received $4 million in state Department of Transportation money since 2000... read more...
Investors: Alteren's still a go
NORWICH – Stephen Stark is out, but a partner in Alteren LLC claims the former developer’s big idea behind the once-proposed $62 million resort project in the Town of Norwich ... read more...
Little agreement on NYRI ground rules
CHENANGO COUNTY – Four stipulations pertaining to certain evidence required of New York Regional Interconnect in its expected power line case were scarcely accepted Wednesday,... read more...
Fight rages as NYRI plot unfolds
NORWICH – Almost one year after it began, the fight against New York Regional Interconnect Inc. has gotten complicated, local opposition leaders said at a public meeting Tuesd... read more...
County tables agreement to fund NYRI opposition
NORWICH – County leaders on Monday agreed to table a second round of local dollars requisitioned to afford legal expenses in the fight against New York Regional Interconnect, ... read more...
County shuffles money to pay $100,000 in bills
NORWICH – Members of the Chenango County Finance Committee spent the majority of the time during their monthly meeting Thursday identifying the funding sources for two bills t... read more...
Private investment in power lines is to be expected
NORWICH – The U.S. Department of Energy doesn’t have to invest in power line research and development, it just has the authority to ensure that private companies like New York... read more...
Powerlines don’t appear to be nation’s top priority
NORWICH – Based on figures in the U.S. Department of Energy’s federal budget request, creating power lines like the New York Regional Interconnection doesn’t appear to be amon... read more...
Could turning rails-to-trails stop NYRI?
CHENANGO COUNTY – Using a federal statute to turn railroad tracks into nature trails would be an aesthetically uplifting transformation, but it wouldn’t be enough to re-route ... read more...
Officials examine implications of NYS&W abandonment
CHENANGO COUNTY – Local officials are looking for the silver lining – and possibly finding just a dark cloud – in light of the permanent de-railment of the New York Susquehann... read more...
Arcuri steps up NYRI fight
NORWICH – Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) kept his word Monday and unveiled – in-person – two federal anti-power line bills to citizens in Chenango County. Congressman ... read more...
Indian burial grounds?
See those railroad tracks in the photo? They belong to the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad (NYS&W), formerly the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W). They ... read more...
NYRI claims project is tax-free, could receive federal rate incentives
NORWICH – Taxpayers won’t have to shell out a dime for the $1.6 billion New York Regional Interconnect power line, officials with the Albany-based company claim. In fact, read more...
Economic expert says don’t count on ‘new Albany’ to rescue Chenango
NORWICH – The new Albany will not rescue upstate New York, political expert David Shaffer told an audience of more than 100 Friday morning at the Chenango County Chamber of Co... read more...
Whatever happened to Alteren?
NORWICH – Mum’s the word where Stephen E. Stark, the one-time resort and event center developer, is concerned. Though he continues to pay taxes on about 500 acres in the Town ... read more...
NYRI issue gets congressional attention
NORWICH – Aside from deterring New York Regional Interconnect Inc., legislation introduced Monday in Washington also looks to propel the power line project from a regional iss... read more...
Feds announce NYRI bill
NORWICH – Federal legislators say they’re introducing a bill in Washington on Monday that they’re hoping can stop the $1.6 billion New York Regional Interconnection Inc. power... read more...
NYRI to fight eminent domain change
NORWICH – New York Regional Interconnect Inc. announced Thursday that it will contest a new eminent domain law in federal court that curbs the company’s power to take private ... read more...
NYRI still a state issue - for now
NORWICH – New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s power line proposal is still a New York state issue – for the time being. Under the direction of the state’s Public Service Co... read more...
Opponents urge: Don't give up the fight against NYRI
CHENANGO COUNTY – The New York Regional Interconnect power line is very much alive and – depending on who you ask – well. According to the local opposition leaders, it’s impor... read more...
Turning up the heat at a meet & greet
NORWICH – From student loans to the Iraq War, 24th District Congressman Mike Arcuri addressed a range of issues Saturday – receiving both cheers and jeers from a packed house ... read more...
NYRI takes part in PSC hearings
NORWICH – Parties involved in the New York Regional Interconnect power line case met Tuesday with representatives from the Albany-based company in front of a judge with the Ne... read more...
2006 was nature's version of Murphy's Law
From many outdoor enthusiasts' standpoint, 2006 was somewhat of an atypical year. There wasn't an abundance of snow. Spring weather came a month earlier than usual, but then f... read more...
Still no word on railroad reopening
NORWICH – A decision to repair or permanently abandon the flood-damaged stretch of the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad from Greene to Sherburne could come within the n... read more...
No timeline for federal involvement in NYRI case; state still prepared
NORWICH – A legal maneuver that allows the federal government to supplant a state’s authority in the review of certain power line proposals – that have historically been under... read more...
NYRI project may affect pipeline plans
NORWICH – Developers of a natural gas pipeline say that unless New York Regional Interconnect Inc. addresses certain issues in its current proposal, the power line could creat... read more...
STOP NYRI asks for "lights out" on Dec. 21
CHENANGO COUNTY – Citizens opposing New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s power line are hoping two of their finest hours will be spent fighting in the darkness – to better il... read more...
Supervisor: Other feet should be held to the NYRI fire too
NORWICH – So far, elected officials have been the primary extenders – from the government level – of public opposition to the read more...
Pataki names new head for PSC
NORWICH – With one month to go in his final term as governor, George Pataki decided not to yield at least one concession to the reform-claiming governor-elect, Eliot Spitzer. ... read more...
How will PSC chair's resignation affect NYRI?
NORWICH – Some opponents of the NYRI power line are hoping another changing-of-the-guard in Albany will help redirect pol... read more...
How much of a role will Feds play in power line decision?
NORWICH – The federal government says it will only be supplementing a state’s authority to accept or reject a power line, although it’s given itself the power to override it. ... read more...
Politicians say they'll continue fighting NYRI
NORWICH – With elections behind them, some constituents are waiting to see if the true colors of area politicians still include a flashing red, calling for the read more...
Expert discusses power line health effects
SHERBURNE – A connection between power lines and cancer is there, says Dr. David Carpenter, but exactly what that link is remains unknown. “While we found the effects,” said ... read more...
Supervisors want state agencies accountable for NYRI
NORWICH – Town of Smyrna Supervisor James Bays said he is “disturbed” and “baffled” with the reticence of New York state’s statutory parties to the Public Service Commission w... read more...
PSC demands more info for NYRI application
SHERBURNE – New York Regional Interconnect Inc. can add a few more items to an already hefty “to do list” in regards to proving its 200-mile long power line is a worthy projec... read more...
Eminent domain not so eminent
Property ownership is the bedrock of our Constitution and economic system. But we have seen a lot in the news about the concept of “eminent domain.” From the proposed NYRI pow... read more...
So how can we tell when NYRI's really dead?
NORWICH – From Eliot Spitzer’s point of view, “NYRI is dead.” According to a report in yesterday’s Times Herald-Record, the state Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate ... read more...
NYS&W caught between NYRI and a hard place
NORWICH – Can’t live with it? Can’t live without it? The New York Susquehanna & Western railroad has shifted itself and Chenango County – with the help of a controversial land... read more...
Point/Counterpoint: Eminent Domain
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sometimes Evening Sun reporters just like to argue. This week, Tyler Murphy and Jeff Genung debate a topic that’s been in the local news a lot lately – the use ... read more...
Sherburne's preemptive strike against NYRI a crucial step in power line fight
SHERBURNE – They say only fools rush in, but preemptive strikes by the Village of Sherburne could eventually play a significant role in thwarting an almost invisible, yet very... read more...
Debate, fight rage on at NYRI info meeting
NORWICH – Even though the Albany power line company was not there, Wednesday’s public New York Regional Interconnection meeting wouldn’t have been the same without a little de... read more...
NYRI: Private venture or public good?
NORWICH – When it comes to the future of energy development, who knows what’s best for New York state? According to New York Regional Interconnect Inc., it’s their company an... read more...
NYRI meeting Wednesday seeks to educate opposition
NORWICH – Todd Barnes says he wishes he still had the letter sent by state Senator Tom Libous, congratulating him and his brother Jody on the successful up and coming business... read more...
NYRI examines options for next step in power line plan
NORWICH – A new law that removes New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s power of eminent domain will not alter how the state reviews power line proposals, despite the loss of t... read more...
Pasta & politics mix at St. Bart's
NORWICH – With just over two weeks to go until the mid-term elections, several campaign trails converged on the St. Bart’s Spaghetti Supper fundraiser Thursday night, making