The US Department of Energy has issued a Record of Decision and approved the Presidential permit for a project that will deliver up to 1090MW of hydropower from Quebec, Canada to Deerfield, New Hampshire.
Since it was first proposed in 2010, the $1.6 billion Northern Pass Transmission Line project has been subject to multiple layers of federal and state government permitting regulations, a nearly 4000 page Environmental Impact Statement, and adjusted its planned route in response to input from local communities as well as federal and state permitting agencies. The approval of Presidential permit PP-371 allows the Northern Pass Transmission Line project to cross the international border and connect into the US grid. Northern Pass’s construction of the line – which will be 192 miles long (above and below ground) – is expected to begin as early as April of 2018, pending approval by the State of New Hampshire’s Site Evaluation Committee.
“Smart energy infrastructure development projects like Northern Pass – which support a reliable and resilient grid, promote economic growth, lower energy costs and benefit the environment we all share – shouldn’t take this long to approve,” said Secretary Perry. “This Administration is committed to improving our nation’s energy infrastructure while also reforming the federal permitting process so that projects like Northern Pass receive full, and prompt, consideration.”
According to Northern Pass, it is estimated that construction of the transmission system will create more than 2600 American jobs and provide over $600 million in annual energy cost savings for New England consumers.
