The report says hydropower from Quebec would merely be redirected to a new U.S. market and will not affect emission reductions regionally, a claim Hydro-Quebec refutes. by Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Hours before a much-anticipated public hearing on the merits of a new transmission line through western Maine, an analysis 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.
Somerset County Residents Want Commissioners to Oppose CMP Power Line
In January commissioners supported the $1 billion, 145-mile CMP transmission line to carry hydropower from Canada to Massachusetts. by Doug Harlow, Staff Writer Central Maine newspapers news story SKOWHEGAN — More than two dozen people packed the Somerset County Commissioners’ meeting Wednesday afternoon with one message to the board: Reconsider your support of Central Maine Read More
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
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
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
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
