NEW YORK CITY – Members of the local power line opposition say they were encouraged Wednesday by the turnout and the testimony at a hearing in Manhattan addressing a controversial energy policy that favors New York Regional Interconnect Inc.

Guided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, in April the U.S. Department of Energy announced the creation of two draft “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.” Although they are not yet official, power line projects within the two corridors – one runs from California to Arizona, the other from Virginia to northern New York state – could fall under federal jurisdiction rather than be subject to state authority. NYRI’s entire 190-mile power line route is covered by the “Mid-Atlantic” corridor, and if that designation is upheld, the project could eventually be approved in Washington even if it is denied by the New York state Public Service Commission.

A group of roughly 100 from different anti-NYRI groups, including the Chenango and Madison team, Stop NYRI, demonstrated and testified at the hearing.

Hubbardsville resident Chris Rossi, a co-chair of the local citizens group Stop NYRI, said testimony provided by the PSC and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities echoed the power line opposition’s call to keep the NYRI proposal, and others like it, a state issue.