WASHINGTON – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) said she’ll fully support fellow New York Democrat Senator Charles Schumer’s anti-New York Regional Interconnect bill when Congress goes back in session Monday.

 “I have made my objections to the proposed NYRI route loud and clear and will keep fighting to ensure New York’s right to make a decision about this project,” Clinton said in a written release Tuesday. “NYRI should not be allowed to short-circuit the state’s rigorous review and citing process.”

 Schumer’s announced legislation Monday that would repeal certain rules guided by the 2005 Federal Energy Policy Act that allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take over power line siting authority in states that are deemed to be National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, meaning those areas have critical energy congestion. New York state and all of NYRI’s route have already been listed in the draft-version of a Mid-Atlantic corridor, which is expected to become permanent in the coming months.

FERC can step-in and approve NYRI’s project, which runs through 44 miles of Chenango County, if it is not approved or denied within a year of filing a complete review application, or if it is approved with unfair stipulations. However, FERC said it can take over a review if a project is denied within one year. NYRI has not filed a complete application.

Upstate politicians and citizens argue Washington is looking to fast-track projects like NYRI’s as quick and easy fixes to the nation’s grid problems.