A project to provide 1200MW of transmission capacity, delivering electricity from hydropower sources in Québec, Canada to New England in the US, has received key state approval from Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC).
The approval for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project comes with an added condition to ensure the company maintains buffering measures at the Kennebec River gorge area.
The LUPC voted 5-2 to issue site law certification to Central Maine Power Company (CMP) to build an electric transmission line to deliver clean hydro power from the Maine/Quebec border to Lewiston, Maine.
“We are pleased that the LUPC has voted in favor of this project. We appreciate that the Commissioners and staff thoroughly analyzed and reviewed the project to ensure it conforms with statute requirements. This approval marks a major milestone for the NECEC and for the region’s efforts to secure a future for clean, reliable energy,” said Doug Herling, president and CEO of Central Maine Power. “The New England Clean Energy Connect will deliver environmental, economic, energy security, power reliability and other benefits for Maine and for consumers throughout New England.”
The NECEC was proposed in response to a solicitation by Massachusetts utilities to support that state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, which set goals to increase supplies of electricity from clean, renewable sources for Massachusetts consumers.
