NORWICH – Those in opposition to the proposed 190-mile long electric transmission line which threatens to bisect Chenango County are growing increasingly confident that the project won’t be approved by state regulators. But the fight isn’t over yet, they warn.

“We have been united in opposition to this. We’re at a critical point. If we stay together, I believe we will beat this,” said Senator James Seward (R-Oneonta).

Seward has taken a leading role at the state level in fighting the controversial high voltage New York Regional Interconnect project from the beginning. The line’s primary proposed route could affect as many as seven upstate counties on its way from Marcy to New Winsor. The project’s investors say the line is needed to alleviate congestion in the power grid and lower costs to downstate consumers, but Seward doesn’t buy it.

“The facts are very clear on this proposal; this is a bad deal, especially for Upstate New York,” the senator said. In 2006, he was instrumental in securing $1 million in senate funding to back Communities Against Regional Interconnect, the coalition of seven upstate counties and 5 community interest groups formed to fight the project.

Now three years later, Seward is still committed to the fight. He and other elected officials were on hand last night for a NYRI powerline update meeting hosted by STOP NYRI and Commerce Chenango at the Eaton Center. During the meeting, the senator praised the local grassroots organization and local government for presenting a united front against the line.