NYRI Calls U.S. House Defeat of Proposed Hinchey-Wolf Amendment 'a Victory for Energy Security and Environmental Stewardship'

ALBANY, N.Y., June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI) project manager, William May, welcomed yesterday's bipartisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives that supported, by a vote of 257 to 174, the building of new electrical infrastructure in the U.S.

"The vote to defeat the Hinchey/Wolf amendment was really a victory for energy security and environmental stewardship," said William May, project manager for NYRI. "New transmission lines, along with conservation and new generation from clean sources, will play a key role in ensuring reliable electricity supplies. We hope this bipartisan vote by the House will encourage states to take actions that will keep our nation's energy lifeblood flowing.

"In New York State," May continued, "NYRI is looking forward to working under existing laws to help meet the energy needs of citizens, hospitals, schools and businesses across the entire state.

The vote to defeat the Hinchey-Wolf amendment was supported by a wide range of groups representing labor and business, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the United States Chamber of Commerce, the American Wind Energy Association and the Alliance for Rural America, representing farmers from throughout the United States. In addition, the amendment was voted down by Democrats and Republicans representing every region of the country.

"New transmission is not only about reliability and energy security," May said, "it's about having a cleaner environment. We need to have new transmission infrastructure to reap the promise of clean renewable energy sources such as wind. People will invest more in power generation from renewable sources if they know a transmission system will be in place that can carry that clean power to market."

Congressmen Maurice Hinchey of New York and Frank Wolf of Virginia had proposed an amendment, defeated in yesterday's vote after full House debate, that would have cut off funds for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program that designates National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridors (NIETCs). The corridor designations are part of a national effort to address the growing threat of electrical blackouts in some of the largest U.S. cities caused by a clogged electrical transmission system.

About NYRI

New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) is a group of investors, engineers, legal advisors, economists and environmental scientists proposing to build a transmission line that would bring electrical power from areas with abundant supply to areas with high demand. NYRI is working with state leaders and communities to enhance public understanding of energy issues, support conservation and promote responsible energy production, transmission and use. http://www.nyri.us/

NYRI is owned by a consortium of investors with broad experience in managing energy and other infrastructure assets and investments. The consortium includes Borealis Infrastructure Management (http://www.borealisinfrastructure.com/), a subsidiary of one of Canada's largest pension plans, and American Consumer Industries (ACI, http://www.aciinc.net/), an investment holding company that specializes in environmentally sensitive power generation technologies and applications.

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