Staying on the line: power line developments

· The board of supervisors in Madison County voted last week to give $50,000 to Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI) to mount a legal battle against the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) project. Chris Cunningham, chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature, said he would introduce similar legislation here. Officials from the six other counties that make up CARI are also expected to give $50,000 to the cause.

· Cunningham and planning commissioner Dr. Bill Pammer will hold an informational meeting on Monday, July 17 in conjunction with Sullivan County BOCES. Using BOCES telecommunications system, the session will be broadcast to various locations around the state, including the Eldred Central School and Sullivan West High School auditoriums at 7:00 p.m. For more information call 845/292-8500.

· Patricia Lynch, a high-powered Albany lobbyist and former aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, has parted company with NYRI. NYRI spokesman Jonathan Pierce told the Binghamton Evening Sun that once lawmakers in Albany passed legislation stripping NYRI of the right to use eminent domain, NYRI and Lynch “mutually decided to go another way.” The legislation is awaiting Governor George Pataki’s signature.

· New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has urged Governor Pataki not to sign the legislation that would prevent NYRI from using eminent domain. According to The New York Times, Bloomberg said the legislation would discourage investment in future energy projects in the city and state.