NYRI Reiterates Its Views on Its Proposed Transmission Line Project In Letters to Senators Clinton and Schumer

ALBANY, N.Y., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI) today made public letters it has delivered to U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer. The letters recap key points made during NYRI's meetings last week with the Senators' staff members on its proposed transmission line project. The letters are attached.

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  March 5, 2007
  Senator Charles Schumer
  United States Senate
  313 Hart Senate Building
  Washington, DC 20510
  202-224-6542

  Dear Senator Schumer:

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with a member of your staff last week to provide updated information regarding the proposed New York Regional Interconnection Project (NYRI). As the Project Manager, I fully recognize the importance and the complexities of building consensus around a large infrastructure project that could ultimately play a role in meeting the growing energy needs of all citizens of New York. We continue to be ready to consider thoughtful and reasonable ideas from stakeholders concerning the best way to accomplish development of this utility infrastructure.

As we discussed during our meeting, we have filed an application with the New York Public Service Commission seeking certification of the project under New York's Article VII transmission siting law. We remain fully committed to pursuing a certificate under New York State law. That siting process provides many opportunities for stakeholders to participate and present comments, concerns and testimony regarding the project. With an issue as important to New York as the delivery of energy to homes and businesses, we believe that New Yorkers from throughout the State would agree that this project should be given full and fair consideration on its merits.

As part of the State siting process, the New York Commission asked NYRI to provide additional information and NYRI volunteered to meet with all interested parties to seek consensus on a methodology to provide that information. To that end, during January and February we actively engaged in a mediation process with many of the parties to the State proceeding.

In addition, it has been suggested on a number of occasions that NYRI consider alternatives to the route it proposed in its Article VII Application including the proposal of some parties that we study using the New York Thruway right-of-way. We are fully committed to that effort and we will provide a study of potential alternate routes as soon as it is completed. Stakeholders have also expressed concern about the visual impact of the project. As a result, we are committed to providing a significantly expanded analysis of the potential visual impact of the project.

As you know, New York State has a challenging problem with regard to meeting its long term energy needs in a manner that is economically sound and environmentally responsible. New York is blessed with many resources in different regions of the state that could help meet those growing energy needs. Renewable resources such as wind and water will help us meet our energy needs in a way that decreases our dependency on foreign oil, improves our fuel diversity and provides economic benefits to the entire State. NYRI is a component of a long term solution to meeting those needs. It is an enabling infrastructure that will create an electric market that is more reliable, better for the environment and more efficient.

In closing, I wanted to take this opportunity to point out that we view our proposed transmission line as beneficial to the entire state. First, the $1.6 billion construction phase would create hundreds of jobs. Second, this project would not be financed with any taxpayer dollars. Third, NYRI is prepared to purchase rights of way at full or above market value. NYRI is prepared to invest more than $73 million in direct payments to land owners to secure the necessary rights to construct the project. Fourth, NYRI would contribute approximately $30 million in local property taxes each year to the communities where the line will be located.

The NYRI management team is committed to updating your office as new information is developed and we welcome your input.

  Yours very truly,
  New York Regional
  Interconnect Inc.


  William G. Bill May
  Project Manager


  March 5, 2007
  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
  United States Senate
  476 Russell Senate Office Building
  Washington, DC 20510
  (202) 224-4451

  Dear Senator Clinton:

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with a member of your staff last week to provide updated information regarding the proposed New York Regional Interconnection Project (NYRI). As the Project Manager, I fully recognize the importance and the complexities of building consensus around a large infrastructure project that could ultimately play a role in meeting the growing energy needs of all citizens of New York. We continue to be ready to consider thoughtful and reasonable ideas from stakeholders concerning the best way to accomplish development of this utility infrastructure.

As we discussed during our meeting, we have filed an application with the New York Public Service Commission seeking certification of the project under New York's Article VII transmission siting law. We remain fully committed to pursuing a certificate under New York State law. That siting process provides many opportunities for stakeholders to participate and present comments, concerns and testimony regarding the project. With an issue as important to New York as the delivery of energy to homes and businesses, we believe that New Yorkers from throughout the State would agree that this project should be given full and fair consideration on its merits.

As part of the State siting process, the New York Commission asked NYRI to provide additional information and NYRI volunteered to meet with all interested parties to seek consensus on a methodology to provide that information. To that end, during January and February we actively engaged in a mediation process with many of the parties to the State proceeding.

In addition, it has been suggested on a number of occasions that NYRI consider alternatives to the route it proposed in its Article VII Application including the proposal of some parties that we study using the New York Thruway right-of-way. We are fully committed to that effort and we will provide a study of potential alternate routes as soon as it is completed. Stakeholders have also expressed concern about the visual impact of the project. As a result, we are committed to providing a significantly expanded analysis of the potential visual impact of the project.

As you know, New York State has a challenging problem with regard to meeting its long term energy needs in a manner that is economically sound and environmentally responsible. New York is blessed with many resources in different regions of the state that could help meet those growing energy needs. Renewable resources such as wind and water will help us meet our energy needs in a way that decreases our dependency on foreign oil, improves our fuel diversity and provides economic benefits to the entire State. NYRI is a component of a long term solution to meeting those needs. It is an enabling infrastructure that will create an electric market that is more reliable, better for the environment and more efficient.

In closing, I wanted to take this opportunity to point out that we view our proposed transmission line as beneficial to the entire state. First, the $1.6 billion construction phase would create hundreds of jobs. Second, this project would not be financed with any taxpayer dollars. Third, NYRI is prepared to purchase rights of way at full or above market value. NYRI is prepared to invest more than $73 million in direct payments to land owners to secure the necessary rights to construct the project. Fourth, NYRI would contribute approximately $30 million in local property taxes each year in the communities where the line will be located.

The NYRI management team is committed to updating your office as new information is developed and we welcome your input.

  Yours very truly,
  New York Regional
  Interconnect Inc.


  William G. Bill May
  Project Manager