NYRI Schedules Public Meeting

For more information: Jonathan M. Pierce, APR, 518-935-1040; jmp@nyri.us

NEW YORK REGIONAL INTERCONNECT SCHEDULES PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION IN NEW WINDSOR

ALBANY, NY -- (04/21/2006; 1000)(EIS) -- New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI), which announced last month that it intends to file an application with the state's Public Service Commission to build a 200-mile high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line from Utica to Orange County, will hold the first of several public information meetings in the town of New Windsor, New York.

The first public session will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at the New Windsor Town Hall, located at 555 Union Ave.

At the meeting, NYRI representatives will present a project overview and will make information on the NYRI Project available to the public. Community members are invited to attend and ask questions.

Several other public information sessions -- being planned in Binghamton, Mount Hope, Marcy, Deposit and Norwich -- will be announced soon.

NYRI proposes to develop and construct a high-voltage, direct current ("HVDC") transmission system extending from the Edic Substation in the Town of Marcy in Oneida County to the Rock Tavern Substation in the Town of New Windsor in Orange County, a distance of approximately 200 miles.

Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law sets forth a review process for the consideration of any application to construct a major utility transmission facility. The law requires that an applicant apply for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need and meet the Article VII requirements before constructing any such facility. NYRI plans to submit its Article VII application to the New York State Public Service Commission later in the spring of 2006. As part of the Article VII process, the public is invited to ask questions and give feedback about the project.

"After receiving our Article VII certificate and all other regulatory approvals, we anticipate starting construction in the spring of 2008," said NYRI Project Manager William (Bill) G. May. The construction phase is expected to take approximately two and a half years. NYRI expects to be fully operational and benefiting New York's energy consumers by 2011.

For more information about the project, call 877-394-6974 (877-FYI-NYRI) or visit NYRI's Website at www.nyri.us.