by Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster op-ed Yes, I drive a car that uses gas, heat my home with oil and consume as much electricity as the next 21st century American. So, no, I can’t get all holier than thou about energy consumption. Still, I am opposed to Central Maine Power Co.’s so-called New England Read More
CMP Transmission Line Proposal: A Bad Deal for Maine
Central Maine Power (CMP) is proposing to build a 145-mile, high-voltage, direct current transmission line from the Quebec-Maine border to an interconnection with the existing New England grid in Lewiston. About 53 miles of the CMP transmission line route would create a brand new transmission corridor; requiring clearing of a large, currently undisturbed, swath of Maine’s North Woods.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes the CMP corridor because it would harm Maine forests and wildlife, suppress Maine's renewable energy industry, and could actually increase climate change emissions, all without any clear benefit to Maine or Massachusetts.
Under its proposal, CMP would expand the other 92 miles of transmission line, requiring clearing more vegetation and undertaking additional development within existing corridors. The proposed CMP transmission line includes above-ground transmission lines across the Kennebec River Gorge, the Appalachian Trail, 263 wetlands, 115 streams, 12 inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat areas, and near Beattie Pond, a Class 6 remote pond.
Quebec Hydro Line Will Ruin Maine’s “Golden Egg” — Our Beautiful Forest
By Roger Merchant, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News news story I walked into the Maine woods in 1965 as a forester and photographer, and spent the next 50 years exploring and appreciating these woods. Maine’s natural resources contribute to our rural quality of life, tourism and forestry economies. Central Maine Power’s proposal to Read More
CMP Project Draws Local Response at Hearing
Daily Bulldog news story FARMINGTON – A transmission line project designed to connect Canadian hydro-power to the Massachusetts grid drew roughly 150 people to a Maine Public Utilities Commission hearing held on the University of Maine at Farmington campus Friday evening. A second, simultaneous hearing was held in The Forks. Forty people provided the MPUC Read More
PUC Urged to Reject CMP Application for Transmission Line
By Dee Menear, Franklin Journal Sun Journal news story FARMINGTON — Most of the nearly 30 people testifying at a public hearing Friday evening urged the Public Utilities Commission to reject Central Maine Power’s application to build a 145-mile transmission line through western Maine. Nearly 150 people filled the Lincoln Auditorium at University of Maine Read More
Second Small Maine Town Votes Against CMP’s Hydropower Project
By Lori Valigra Bangor Daily News news story West Forks plantation, a town of 56 residents, voted Thursday night by a majority not to support Central Maine Power’s project to transmit electricity from Canada to Massachusetts via Maine. In a 45-7 vote, townspeople objected to the New England Clean Energy Connect project being pushed by Read More
PUC Delays Next Week’s Hearings on CMP’s Proposed Transmission Line Project
The complexity, heavy interest and other issues force postponement of the sessions for at least six more weeks. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story One of two sets of hearings at which state utility regulators gather public input about Central Maine Power’s proposed transmission line project has been postponed. Hearings at Read More
Maine PUC Seeks Public Testimony on NECEC Project
The Public Utilities Commission will hold public witness hearings Friday in Farmington and The Forks about the proposed power line. Central Maine Newspapers news story The Maine Public Utilities Commission plans to hold public witness hearings Friday in Farmington and The Forks to hear from members of the public on Central Maine Power Co.’s proposal Read More
CMP’s Transmission Line Proposal is More Than Just a Little Fishy
The corridor is basically an extension cord from Canada to Massachusetts. by Todd Towle, Registered Maine Guide and owner and operator of Kingfisher River Guides in Kingfield Portland Press Herald op-ed KINGFIELD — As a fly-fishing guide based out of Kingfield, I get to share some of the most beautiful remote places in Maine with Read More
Small Maine Town Rescinds Support for Big CMP Hydro Project
By Lori Valigra Bangor Daily News news story A town of 68 residents along the proposed hydropower corridor from Canada to Lewiston retracted its earlier letter of support for the Central Maine Power and Hydro-Quebec project, calling it harmful and saying it is not financially beneficial to the Maine economy or its residents. In an Read More
