Company proposes new power transmission line from Aroostook County

Mar. 2—A subsidiary of energy delivery giant Consolidated Edison Inc. is proposing a new transmission line that likely would connect largely unbuilt wind, solar and biomass energy projects in northern Maine with New England's electrical grid.

Con Edison Transmission Inc. announced plans Wednesday to build the Maine Power Link project, which could deliver up to 1,200 megawatts of renewable energy to the regional transmission system in southern Maine.

The route would mostly follow existing utility rights-of-way, the company said.

The project was submitted to the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday. It's a response to a bid process mandated by a law passed last year creating the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program. The bill, LD 1710, was presented by Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash.

The bid process is confidential, but Con Edison chose to make its proposal known Wednesday.

The renewable electricity that would move over the line is subject to a separate bid process for generation that is underway at the PUC, with submissions due May 1.

"We cannot disclose any information about bids received at this stage in the procurement process," the PUC said Wednesday. "The commission will carefully review all submissions consistent with the statutory guidance."

The proposal comes four months after Maine voters rejected ongoing efforts by Central Maine Power's domestic parent company, Avangrid, to build the $1 billion New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line through western Maine. That project, which has a similar capacity as the Con Ed proposal, is partially constructed but on hold pending court challenges.

Two-thirds of the 145-mile NECEC project also follow existing right-of-ways, but environmental groups and others opposed the cutting of a new, 54-mile corridor through working forest in western Maine.

Most of Aroostook County and parts of Washington County aren't connected to the American electrical grid and receive much of their power through Canada at added costs. Economic development and energy interests in Maine have been trying for decades to connect northern Maine with the rest of New England. In addition to lowering power costs in the county, a new transmission line also could serve large, proposed wind energy projects northern Maine that so far have lacked a connection.

"This project's solutions are the result of an exhaustive review of Maine's energy grid, its objectives, and our experience as an industry leader in transmission development," said Stuart Nachmias, president and CEO of Con Edison Transmission, in a statement Wednesday. "We believe that this project will help the people of Maine achieve their clean energy goals, bring needed clean energy generation to market, preserve the beauty of Maine's communities and create sustainable economic opportunity."

Con Edison said the Maine Power Link will provide cost-effective delivery of renewable energy to support increased electrification and decreased dependance on fossil fuel imports and their volatile prices. It also will provide the transmission infrastructure needed to unlock renewable energy in northern Maine, creating a clean energy hub that will spark investment in the region and provide well-paying jobs during construction and when in operation.

Con Edison said the Maine Power Link project solutions are the result of a comprehensive review of transmission options for the state.

The solutions include "options not previously considered that offer value for customers with options for expansion ... By maximizing the use of existing rights-of-way, Maine Power Link minimizes the visual and environmental impacts of the project," it said.

Con Edison said it is committed to "proactive and transparent communication with stakeholders and will set a new standard of cooperative engagement with local communities and stakeholders throughout the siting, permitting and construction process."

The project is being endorsed by the Northern Maine Development Commission, which said it will provide hundreds of construction jobs.

"The renewable wind, solar and biomass energy projects it will facilitate will drive the demand for local businesses such as mills to produce timber products, fuel and aggregate suppliers and heavy equipment rentals to support construction activities," said Robert Clark, the commission's executive director.

The project also has won early support from leading environmental groups.

"Maine Audubon is grateful to the team behind Maine Power Link for their proactive engagement as they work to locate their project in a manner that avoids environmental and ecological impacts to the greatest extent possible," said Eliza Donoghue, Maine Audubon's director of advocacy. "We are optimistic that early engagement with stakeholders, including conservation and clean energy advocates like Maine Audubon, will result in both more efficient processes and better environmental outcomes."

The Natural Resources Council of Maine is a staunch opponent of the NECEC line. But Jack Shapiro, the council's climate and clean energy director, said it has a different view of Con Edison's proposal.

"The bottom line is (the council) supports responsible, renewable energy and transmission development that delivers real climate benefits," Shapiro said. "We really want to see the potential for developing significant new renewable projects in Aroostook County to be realized, and this could be a key step in that direction, especially if it can be done at a reasonable cost."

This story will be updated.