NORWICH – An official from New York Regional Interconnect Inc. confirmed this morning that only a few weeks after hiring high-powered lobbyist Patricia Lynch, their $180k contract with her Albany-based firm was canceled.

“My understanding is that we were working together,” said NYRI spokesperson Jonathan Pierce. “Once the legislation passed through the Assembly we mutually decided to go another way.”

Before the state legislature went into recess on June 23, a bill that could lawfully remove the use of eminent domain to acquire private property by certain transmission companies, such as NYRI, was pushed through in the final hours by both the Senate and Assembly. The bill is currently awaiting a decision from Governor George Pataki.