Residents and businesses in Somerset County were among those who raised concerns Friday about CMP’s proposed transmission line from Quebec to Massachusetts. by Rachel Ohm, Staff Writer Central Maine Newspapers news story AUGUSTA — As a registered whitewater rafting guide in Somerset County, Kimberly Lyman has heard from visitors to Maine about their desire to 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.
As CMP Transmission Line Plan Charges Ahead, Opposition to the Project Grows in Maine
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Central Maine Power (CMP) says that it is ready to negotiate the terms of its bid to build and upgrade 145-miles of high-power transmission lines that would bring electricity from Canada’s Hydro Quebec dam system to Massachusetts customers. The move comes as regulatory hearings in Maine and Massachusetts Read More
Quebec Hydro Project Could Spoil a Pristine Maine Wilderness
By Janice Cooper, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed In my younger days, I canoed and rafted down many American rivers, including the Allagash and the mother of all whitewater rapids, the Colorado. I held on for dear life as we tossed our way through the Grand Canyon, thinking, “There is no better Read More
Critics Question Plan for CMP Power Line through Western Maine
by Steve Collins, Staff Writer Sun Journal news story LEWISTON — Whether Central Maine Power should get permission to construct its proposed 145-mile electrical transmission line between Quebec and Lewiston drew sharp comments Wednesday during a session sponsored by the Sierra Club at City Hall. The $950 million project would deliver power generated by Hydro-Québec Read More
Quebec Hydro Project a Bad Deal for Maine
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Central Maine Power is pushing for a huge transmission line that would cross large areas of Maine’s undeveloped North Woods, including the famous Kennebec Gorge. The line would allow Hydro-Quebec, a government-owned Canadian company, to sell its electricity at a premium in Massachusetts. The Read More
Quebec Hydro Isn’t a Good Fit for Mass.
We need closer-to-home renewables that actually reduce emissions by Deb Pasternak, interim chapter director, Massachusetts Sierra Club Commonwealth Magazine op-ed Massachusetts electric distribution companies submitted long-term hydro electricity supply contracts to the Department of Public Utilities for review recently. The Massachusetts Sierra Club believes strongly that these contracts are not the right way to get Read More
Maine Environmental Group Opposes Mass. Energy Transmission Project
by State House News Service Worcester Business Journal news story An environmental nonprofit from Maine was expected to oppose contracts between Massachusetts utility companies and Central Maine Power related to the 140-mile New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project at a hearing Wednesday. The Natural Resources Council of Maine says the NECEC project, which would Read More
What Will Maine Get Out of It? Groups Skeptical about CMP’s Hydropower Plan
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Central Maine Power’s proposal to bring a massive amount of electricity from Canada through western Maine to Massachusetts will lower electricity costs throughout the region, and ease winter-time price spikes as well; at least, that’s the pitch Massachusetts officials are making to regulators there. But there are many Read More
CMP Will Give $50 Million to Help Low-income Customers in Massachusetts
The Maine-based utility will provide the money over 40 years to help electricity customers save money on energy. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Central Maine Power has agreed to give $50 million to energy-assistance programs that will benefit low-income electric customers — in Massachusetts. CMP will provide $50 million over Read More
