NORWICH – Federal legislators say they’re introducing a bill in Washington on Monday that they’re hoping can stop the $1.6 billion New York Regional Interconnection Inc. power line project.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s (D-NY) press office said the bill is an effort “to stop the NYRI power line proposal from moving forward,” in a Feb. 2 release.

It’s expected that Hinchey and 24th District Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) will unveil the specifics of the legislation at separate press conferences Monday in Monticello and Utica. Arcuri had originally scheduled a public meeting in Norwich at 1 p.m. at the City of Norwich Fire Department, but canceled later in the morning due to inclement weather, an Arcuri staff member confirmed at 10:30 a.m.

“I think it’s great,” said Norwich resident and NYRI opponent Perry Owen. “The next move should be to persuade senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer to get involved.”

Earlville resident and STOP NYRI co-chair Eve Ann Shwartz said although the specifics of the bill haven’t been divulged, the move is a promising sign that the power line issue, and U.S. energy policy as a whole, are important priorities at the federal level.