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 “the right thing to do” since “Not In My Back Yard” anti-NYRI activists and lawmakers upstate are preventing “juice” from getting downstate.

Touting New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s $1.6 billion power line proposal, the two editorials call on the politicians and upstaters to see “the big picture” and “get power lines built – lines such as the New York Regional Interconnection – which would send juice from upstate to downstate.”

“The federal Energy Department is pushing New York to give fair consideration to a proposed power line that would deliver much-needed electricity from upstate to the New York City area,” states the Oct. 8 editorial in the New York Daily News titled, “Power to the People.” “It’s the right thing for the government to do.”

The Daily News columnist also calls out state lawmakers for creating a law that blocks NYRI’s use of eminent domain to take private property. “Never mind the city is starved for juice and gets walloped with high electric bills,” it states. “The pols cared only about pacifying upstaters opposed to new transmission towers.”