NORWICH – The final two public hearings about the proposed 190-mile electric transmission line that could cut through upstate New York will take place in Norwich tomorrow.

Information forums will be held at 1 and 6 p.m. Thursday, with public statement hearings at 2 and 7 p.m., at the Chenango County Council of the Arts Building, 27 West Main St.

The sessions will give area residents their final opportunity to make direct statements before the administrative law judges assigned to review the New York Regional Interconnect application under the Public Service Commission’s Article VII review process.

Local opposition groups have been encouraging area residents to attend the meetings and speak out against the project, which would affect numerous upstate New York communities along the proposed route from Marcy to New Winsor.

Communities Against Regional Interconnect is a non-profit coalition representing seven counties and five local community groups in the fight against the $2 billion project.

Chenango County Planning and Development Director Donna M. Jones is the local representative for the organization, of which Chenango County and Stop NYRI are members.

Jones said she hopes the events in Norwich will have a large turnout.

“We want the administrative law judges to see how many people this would impact,” she said.

It is important to make informed statements, she stressed. To assist in that process, both CARI and Stop NYRI have posted talking points on their websites. These suggested topics can be viewed at www.caricoalition.com and www.StopNYRI.com.