NORWICH – Last week, just days after New York Regional Interconnect officially pulled the application for its controversial electric transmission line project, Chenango County made the decision to withdraw from Communities Against Regional Interconnect, the coalition of seven counties and five community action groups which spearheaded the fight against NYRI.

“We’re very appreciative of the fight that was put forward by CARI,” said Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Richard Decker, R-N. Norwich.

On Monday, April 6, NYRI filed a letter with the New York State Public Service Commission officially withdrawing its Article VII application. By mid-week, the county had exercised a clause in their agreement with CARI which allowed them to pull out of the grassroots organization.

“It was a good fight,” Decker said. “Now it is time to move on.”

While some may see pulling out of the organization as premature, CARI’s local representative, Chenango County Planning Director Donna M. Jones, said it is being done “to protect the county’s interests.”

To date, the county has contributed $150,000 to the coalition to help fund the legal battle against the power line project. According to Decker, there is an outstanding request from CARI for an additional $55,000.

“Although the county is pulling out of CARI we are not skirting our financial responsibilities,” said Jones, who explained that the county would like to see an accounting of the organization’s outstanding expenses before additional payments are made.

“When a final accounting has been completed, what we would like to see happen is all the counties split the final bill evenly,” she explained.