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 the previously legal tool to secure land, officials said.

The state Public Service Commission, which decides the fate of all large-scale transmission line proposals on the state level, ruled NYRI’s bid deficient in June and has yet to receive the corrections from the Albany-based company. However, even without the ability to forcibly take property, NYRI’s Article VII siting application is still considered by the PSC to be on the books, and will still be reviewed – if ever completed – without a secure route.

“That’s in NYRI’s hands,” said Gary Davidson, a spokesperson for the New York state Public Service Commission. “They will have to address that issue.”

A NYRI representative said the application is still in the works, and would not specifically comment on how the eminent domain law has affected the project. “We’re working on it,” said NYRI spokesman Jon Pierce, “and looking at what the next steps will be.”