AVANGRID: Maine Supreme Court Rules State-Issued Lease For NECEC Transmission Project Valid

AVANGRID: MAINE SUPREME COURT RULES STATE-ISSUED LEASE FOR NECEC TRANSMISSION PROJECT VALID

PORTLAND, Maine — November 29, 2022 — In a long-anticipated decision, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that the State of Maine acted within its constitutional authority in granting a lease to NECEC developers for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line project. When completed, the project will connect 1,200MW of clean hydropower to the New England electrical grid.

The following is a statement from Scott Mahoney, Senior Vice President – General Counsel at AVANGRID:
“Today’s ruling by the Law Court is yet another step in the right direction for Maine’s renewable energy future. The serious need for the NECEC project to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, combat climate change, and lower regional energy prices remains unchanged. For the past three years, despite opposition funding by fossil fuel interests, every regulatory body at the local, state, and federal level has thoroughly reviewed the New England Clean Energy Connect and all agree the NECEC is beneficial for Mainers. We are pleased with today’s ruling and look forward to determining our next steps for this critical project.” 

The court issued its decision in a 50-page ruling, which can be found here. Key sections follow:
“Based on the lack of any “significant and legitimate” countervailing public purpose to justify the voiding of the 2020 lease, we conclude that the Contract Clause does not permit the impairment caused by section 1 of the Initiative (page 34).

The relevant facts in the administrative record are free of ambiguity or dispute. The two tracts of public reserved lands in question— Johnson Mountain and West Forks Plantation—occupy a combined area of 1,241 acres in the Upper Kennebec Region. Their physical characteristics include water bodies, wetlands, and primarily standing timber. There are no unique features or protected areas on either tract. Their predominant use has been for timber harvesting every twenty years, but there are also recreational facilities and an existing 100-foot-wide, three-mile-long utility transmission line on the tracts. The essential purposes of the tracts are to support the multiple uses currently being made of them consistent with the Bureau’s management plans (pages 46-47).

Given the uses, physical characteristics, and essential purposes of the Johnson Mountain and West Forks Plantation tracts, we see no reasonable basis for deciding that a second utility transmission line occupying 2.6% of the combined tracts could significantly alter the physical characteristics of so much of the remaining 97.4% that the multiple-use purposes for which the tracts are held would be frustrated (page 48).”

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $40 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021 and 2022 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2022, AVANGRID ranked second within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.

With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.

Maine Law Court Rules Referendum Blocking the New England Clean Energy Connect Unconstitutional

Maine Law Court Rules Referendum Blocking the New England Clean Energy Connect Unconstitutional

PORTLAND, Maine — August 30, 2022 — This unanimous decision by the Law Court is a victory for clean energy expansion, transmission development, and decarbonization efforts in Maine, New England and across the country.

It is time to move away from the status quo fossil fuel companies who will undoubtedly continue their fight to maintain a stranglehold on the New England energy market. These companies have fought this clean energy project in every legal manner possible, filing challenge after challenge in a desperate effort to hold onto their share of the market. Maine’s highest court has rejected their latest challenge as unconstitutional. The NECEC is good for Maine, bringing hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into the state at no cost to Maine. It will deliver lower energy prices in Maine and New England and help protect against the wild fluctuations in price that Mainers who are dependent on fossil fuels are now experiencing. The project will also help us meet our bold emission reduction goals by removing more than 3 million metric tons of carbon from our atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 700,000 cars from the road.

We are pleased with this outcome as we move Maine to a cleaner energy future. 

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $40 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021 and 2022 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2022, AVANGRID ranked second within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.

With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.

Statement from New England Clean Energy Connect on Preliminary Injunction Decision

Statement from New England Clean Energy Connect on Preliminary Injunction Decision

December 16, 2021 -- AUGUSTA, ME – The following statement was issued on behalf of NECEC: 

“While we are disappointed in the court’s decision on the preliminary injunction, we remain confident that the full legal process will ultimately conclude that question one is unconstitutional. As one of the region’s most important clean energy projects, the NECEC will benefit Maine and all New Englanders by reducing the region’s dependence on fossil fuels which will result in cleaner air, lower energy prices and improved reliability.  

As Mainers face stiff increases on their electric bills this winter after generators significantly increased the price they charge for electricity, the region’s independent grid operator, ISO New England, called out the need for greater fuel diversity and baseload generation, pointing to the NECEC as a solution.  

The facts are clear: the NECEC project is good for Maine and for the region and will help address the energy, economic and climate issues we face. That is why we remain committed to this project and its many benefits and look forward to restarting construction as soon as we are able.”

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT 

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England. 

The 145-mile transmission line is being built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power. The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land uses a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the Spring of 2023. 

The project will create an average of more than 1,600 good-paying jobs annually during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable. The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year.  

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes, and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and economic development funding for Western Maine. 

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AVANGRID AND NECEC TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT HISTORIC CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT

Company files suit challenging constitutionality of Question 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                           

ORANGE, Conn., — November 3, 2021 — Today, NECEC Transmission LLC and  Avangrid Networks, Inc., subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc. [NYSE: AGR] filed a  lawsuit in Maine Superior Court challenging the citizens’ initiative (Question 1)  voted on yesterday. 

“We thank our supporters and the 160,000 Mainers who voted in support of the  NECEC project,” said Thorn Dickinson, President and CEO of NECEC  Transmission LLC. “And to those who voted yes on Question 1, we will work to  earn your support and demonstrate the tremendous benefits this project will  bring to the state and the region.” 

Question 1 proposes to retroactively change Maine law to block the New  England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission project, New England’s  largest clean energy project that would bring hydropower from Quebec to the New England region. The initiative is unconstitutional and violates both state  and federal law.

“We have followed the rules every step of the way in a transparent and public  process and have received every regulatory approval required for this project to  proceed, however, fossil fuel companies have done everything they can,  including misleading Mainers, to try and block this clean energy project,” said Dickinson. “This referendum was an act of bad faith by self-interested  proponents and was targeted at stopping a single project.” 

The lawsuit filed today outlines how Question 1 violates a number of legal  principles including vested property rights, separation of powers, and the  contracts clauses of the Maine and U.S. Constitutions. 

• Vested Rights - A legal principle embodied in Maine Law, vested rights,  protects a property owner who has invested in a project after following the  law in place at the time. Under the vested rights principle, if a property owner  followed the rules in getting all necessary permits and starts construction of  a project, the rules cannot be changed retroactively to block the project.  NECEC began construction on the transmission project only after receiving  full regulatory approvals. Going back now and retroactively changing the  rules to stop the project is a clear violation of the company’s vested rights. 

• Separation of Powers - Question 1 also violates the separation of powers  principles enshrined in the Maine Constitution by attempting to reverse  decisions of both Maine’s executive and judicial branches through a  legislative action. This is the same principle the Maine Supreme Judicial  Court invoked in 2020 when it threw out the first citizens’ initiative put  forward by opponents of the project. A citizens’ initiative is considered an act  of the legislative branch under the Maine Constitution.  

• Contracts Clause - By attempting to cancel a 25-year lease between  NECEC and the State of Maine, the initiative violates the Contracts Clauses  of both the Maine and United States Constitutions – provisions intended to  protect the sanctity of contracts from intrusion by the government.  

“Question 1 violates fundamental legal principles, but you don’t have to be a  lawyer to see that it’s also fundamentally unfair,” Dickinson said. “This  referendum effectively tears up valid contracts, ignores the judicial and 

executive branches and goes back in time to retroactively change the rules to  stop a project just because it threatens the financial interests of fossil fuel  generators.” 

Because Question 1 violates vested rights as well as these basic constitutional  protections provided by the Maine and United States Constitutions, the initiative  cannot lawfully be applied retroactively to the NECEC. In the lawsuit filed today,  NECEC seeks a declaratory judgment from the Superior Court that the initiative  is unlawful and cannot be enforced against the project. 

NECEC also asks the Superior Court for an immediate injunction preventing  retroactive enforcement of the initiative against the project, so that ongoing time sensitive and essential construction is not disrupted while this lawsuit proceeds  before the courts. NECEC expects the Superior Court to rule on the injunction  request promptly. 

Opponents of the NECEC project include fossil fuel energy generation owners  NextEra, Calpine and Vistra Energy, which combined have contributed over $24  million to block the project over the last two years according to publicly filed  documents, including fully funding the referendum signature campaign. Opponents of the NECEC have filed more than a dozen legal challenges but have been unsuccessful in their attempts to block construction, including a  unanimous decision by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upholding  authorization for the project. 

Construction began on the NECEC in early 2021 and to date, approximately 124 miles of the transmission corridor have been cleared and over 120 structures  have been installed. The project has been reviewed by state and federal  regulators and permitting agencies and has received every regulatory approval  required at the state and federal levels, including from the Maine Public Utilities  Commission (MPUC), the Maine Department of Environmental Protection  (MDEP), the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC), the U.S. Army  Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition, the project 

has already received municipal approvals from 20 out of the 24 Maine  municipalities that require permits for the project  

Editor’s Note: The legal filing can be found here. 

# # # 

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT 

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver  1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine.  All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be  New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from  fossil fuels, while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England. 

The 145-mile transmission line is being built on land owned or controlled by an affiliate company  of the NECEC. The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land uses a new clearing  technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power  lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction is  scheduled to be completed by the Spring of 2023. 

The project will create an average of more than 1,600 good-paying jobs annually during the two and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid,  making Maine’s electricity service more reliable. The NECEC will allow more producers of  renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will  use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of  dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine, including lower electricity  prices, increased local real estate taxes, and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like  expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and  economic development funding for Western Maine. 

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at  www.necleanenergyconnect.org. 

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the  United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $39 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S.  states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid  Networks owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New  York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation  facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 7,000 people and has been recognized by  Forbes and Just Capital as one of the 2021 JUST 100 companies – a list of America’s best corporate citizens – and  was ranked number one within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves.  The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical  Companies in 2021 for the third consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit  www.avangrid.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Zsoka McDonald
Zsoka.mcdonald@avangrid.com
203-997-6892

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Patricia Cosgel
Patricia.cosgel@avangrid.com
203-499-2624

Hundreds of Mainers go to work as construction begins on the New England Clean Energy Connect

Hundreds of Mainers go to work as construction begins on the New England Clean Energy Connect

The Clean Energy Corridor has hired hundreds of Maine workers with hundreds more to follow in the coming months

AUGUSTA, MAINE – February 8, 2021 – The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is pleased to announce 275 Mainers have already been hired as work begins on a project critical to Maine’s future. Construction began in January with snow being plowed and mats being laid to provide access to construction sites.

“I’ve talked to so many Mainers who are thrilled to be back in Maine after having to go out of state for work,” says Thorn Dickinson, NECEC president/CEO.  “This project has always promised to provide an economic boost to Maine’s economy, and we are already seeing those benefits take shape.”

The NECEC will continue to give preference to Mainers to fill all positions available to do the work on this project. That includes a mix of union and non-union labor. These are good paying jobs with an average salary of $38 per hour and other benefits.

“Our members' careers depend on infrastructure projects like NECEC, and this project means jobs. Jobs during the COVID crisis when they are most urgently needed,” said Tim Burgess, IBEW 104 assistant business manager. “We’re proud of this project and are looking forward to getting more Mainers to work.”  

“I’m a Bangor native and a University of Maine graduate, but I had to move out-of-state for my career,” said Nick Achorn, NECEC project manager. “This project has allowed me to move our family back to Maine to work on a project that I know will benefit Maine’s future.”

On the heels of Governor Mills recent announcement that her administration has awarded $5.6 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund money to expand high-speed broadband access in rural Maine, the NECEC will also provide another $15 million in broadband opportunities in Western Maine where upgrades are desperately needed.

The corridor will also increase the state gross domestic product by more than half a billion dollars, increase property tax revenues by $18 million and more than $10 million for economic development and promotion of regional tourism.

“Construction is bringing an influx of Maine workers,” said Joe Christopher, owner of Inn by the River in The Forks. “Inns and restaurants from Jackman to Lewiston are already providing lodging and meals to those building the NECEC. The positive impact of the project is significant and a very much needed economic injection for the area at a time when Covid has negatively affected so many businesses.” 

“My employees have been straight out building mats for months,” says Glidden Mats owner Peter Glidden. “This project provides work for not only my company, but for truckers who carry logs to the mills and finished mats to areas of construction.”

Work on the NECEC is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2023. For more information on the project, please go to our website.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction is expected to be completed and the line in service by the second quarter of 2023.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydro power, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine in the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

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Contact: Ted Varipatis
Serra Public Affairs
207-415-6182

AVANGRID’S New England Clean Energy Connect Receives Final Major Permit and Announces Start of Construction

AVANGRID’S New England Clean Energy Connect Receives Final Major Permit and Announces Start of Construction

Presidential Permit from the US Department of Energy allows for trans-border crossing of renewable hydropower transmission line from Canada to the US 

ORANGE, Conn. — Jan. 15, 2021 — AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company, announced today that it has received the Presidential Permit from the US Department of Energy for its New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project, thus successfully completing all major permitting.  The project also marked the start of construction with the commencement of clearing activities and installation of temporary access roads to prepare for the installation of the monopoles that will carry the transmission line.  In partnership with Hydro-Quebec, the NECEC will bring clean hydropower from Quebec, significantly reducing carbon emissions in New England. 

“From day one, our focus has been on how we can provide cleaner energy for the region along with lower electric rates, jobs and economic stimulus – all while mitigating the project’s environmental impact,” said AVANGRID President, Robert Kump. “After 33 months, hundreds of hours of public hearings, thousands of pages of evidence, and a comprehensive review by state, federal and regional regulators and agencies, there should be no doubt of the value the Clean Energy Corridor brings to Maine to further clean energy goals, provide cleaner air, and lower energy costs.”

“The NECEC is a strong and swift response to the climate urgency which, as the pandemic, is a challenge that has no borders. It will help bring down harmful emissions, while reliably powering homes and businesses with competitive, renewable energy,” said Hydro-Québec president and CEO Sophie Brochu. “The granting of the Presidential Permit brings us closer to our collective goal – building a clean energy future for us all.”

“We are pleased to be able to start construction so that Mainers can realize the more than $570 million in benefits and more than 1,600 jobs this project will bring to Maine during this time of economic uncertainty,” continued Kump. “Benefits for the state of Maine will come in the form of infrastructure upgrades, rate relief for customers, including a fund for low-income customers, grants for electric vehicle infrastructure, economic development for tourism, education funding, broadband, heat pumps and land conservation.”

Following nearly three years of extremely rigorous and thorough review and approvals for the project which examined environmental, economic and social impacts, the Presidential Permit is the last in a series of permits granted by independent regulatory bodies at the state and federal level.  All of the regulatory reviews have concluded that the Clean Energy Corridor is environmentally and economically beneficial and good for Maine and New England.  The project previously received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.  

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All of the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England. 

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. 

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period and provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of harmful emissions each year. 

For more information about Hydro-Québec: https://www.hydroquebec.com/about/our-energy.html

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/

#  #  #

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

Media: 
Zsoka McDonald,
203-997-6892 or zsoka.mcdonald@avangrid.com

Investors: 
Patricia Cosgel,
203-499-2624 or patricia.cosgel@avangrid.com

Army Corps of Engineers Grants Permit to AVANGRID’S New England Clean Energy Connect Clean Energy Corridor

Army Corps of Engineers Grants Permit to AVANGRID’S New England Clean Energy Connect Clean Energy Corridor

Permit clears the way for construction to begin 

Nov. 4, 2020 — AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company, announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted approval to the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) Clean Energy Corridor. The NECEC is a renewable energy project being built by AVANGRID to bring hydropower from Quebec to Maine and other parts of New England. 

“The Army Corps permit is a significant milestone because it clears the way for construction to begin in the coming weeks,” said AVANGRID President, Robert Kump. “We are excited to start construction on this critical renewable energy project so we can begin to deliver the numerous benefits of NECEC including new local jobs, significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, millions of dollars in economic investment and incentives for Maine, and lower energy prices for all of New England. The NECEC is good for Mainers, good for our economy and good for our environment.” 

“The NECEC is projected to inject more than $570 million into Maine’s economy and this project will ensure steady work for Mainers in a time of great economic uncertainty,” continued Kump. 

“We have already announced more than $300 million worth of contracts that provide much needed jobs and investment in the state and job fairs will be held across Maine this Fall to fill many of the 1600 positions that will be created by this project.”

Following more than three years of extremely rigorous and thorough review and approvals for the project which examined environmental, economic and social impacts, the Army Corps permit is the latest in a series of permits granted by independent regulatory bodies at the state and federal level.  All of the regulatory reviews at the state and federal have concluded that the Clean Energy Corridor is environmentally and economically beneficial and good for Maine and New England.  The project previously received permits from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.  In addition to municipal level permitting, the remaining required permit for the project is the Presidential Permit from the US Department of Energy, which is required to construct the cross-border transmission component of the line to Quebec.  

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All of the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England. 

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. 

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period and provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of harmful emissions each year. 

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/

#  #  #

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

Media: 
Zsoka McDonald, 203-997-6892 or zsoka.mcdonald@avangrid.com

Investors: 
Patricia Cosgel, 203-499-2624 or patricia.cosgel@avangrid.com

Lawsuit Questions Constitutionality of Maine Referendum of the New England Clean Energy Connect

LAWSUIT QUESTIONS CONSTITUTIONALITY OF MAINE REFERENDUM ON THE NEW ENGLAND CLEAN ENERGY CONNECT

Avangrid Networks supported by IEGC and Maine Chamber of Commerce in lawsuit asking courts to block referendum from November ballot

PORTLAND, ME – May 13, 2020 –  Questioning the constitutionality of the referendum proposed by opponents of the New England Clean Energy Connect, AVANGRID Networks filed a lawsuit yesterday supported by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Energy Consumer’s Group (IECG).

“If this referendum is put on the ballot, any decision by a court or agency could be arbitrarily overturned after the fact,” said Thorn Dickinson, CEO and President of the NECEC Transmission, LLC. “It will create a dangerous precedent that allows special interests to manipulate voters in overturning decisions made by local and state regulators and Maine courts.  This creates uncertainty and threatens individual rights of fairness under the law.” 

Dana Connors, President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, explained “Regulatory consistency is the hallmark for economic development and investment in our state, or any state.  When the referendum process is used to overturn a permitting decision and moves the goal posts at the end of that process, we risk critical investments in Maine.  This is not only an improper use of the referendum process, it is one that we cannot sit on the sidelines and let stand.”

Counsel for IECG, Tony Buxton, said he believed the Consumers Group would join in the lawsuit because this use of a referendum makes no sense. “Why don’t we change the sign in Kittery from ‘Welcome Home’ to ‘Maine: Where permits mean nothing and referenda are every Tuesday.’ You can’t run a society by referendum.”

The lawsuit, which was filed in Cumberland County against the Secretary of State as the official responsible for preparing the November general election ballot, argues that the proposed referendum suffers from two fatal constitutional flaws:  

• First, this referendum exceeds the legislative power provided to the people under the Constitution. Maine’s highest court, the Law Court, has consistently recognized that referendum power is limited to legislative acts, which are by nature “general and prospective” and “a rule for all, and binding on all.” This initiative against the NECEC does not meet these simple and straightforward criteria. Rather, the Initiative is directly targeted at reversing one particular Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity granted to a specific single entity after months of hearings and public testimony.  

• Second, this referendum violates the separation of powers provision of the Maine Constitution. The Constitution mandates that power granted to one branch of government cannot be usurped by any other branch. Here, the referendum doubly offends: it usurps executive power by seeking to reverse a lengthy Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) process and resulting certificate, and it usurps the judicial power by seeking to reverse the Law Court’s final judgment affirming the MPUC’s order. By infringing on both executive and judicial power, the Initiative violates separation of powers doctrine and is constitutionally indefensible.

“This referendum sets a precedent for which any Maine business, properly established and operated could be shut down not based on facts or due process, but by a never-ending appeal-by-referendum concocted by special interests,” continued Dickinson.  “Imagine if a referendum singled out an individual lobsterman’s right to fish and revoked only his permit, leaving the rest of the industry alone?”

The NECEC project continues to successfully navigate an extremely rigorous, non-political, multi-year public approval process and has received permits from all relevant agencies to date.  Earlier this week, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) granted its approval of the project, confirming that the NECEC has met or exceeded all environmental standards established by MDEP and that no other alternative routes would be an improvement on the current project design.

Opponents of the NECEC include citizen groups that are under investigation for ethics violations and fossil fuel generators like Florida-based NextEra and Texas-based Calpine who testified against the project at the MPUC and also challenged the MPUC’s decision that the project was in the public interest of Maine before Maine’s Law Court.  

“These out-of-state fossil fuel companies stand to make millions every day they delay this project,” said Dickinson.  “Now these same out of state fossil fuel generators are the financial backers of a referendum that flies in the face of Maine’s constitution and represents a dangerous precedent that puts at risk the fundamental right for individuals to be treated fairly before the law.”

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in the second quarter of 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting more than three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine and the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/.

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Maine Department of Environmental Protection Gives Final Approval to the New England Clean Energy Connect

Maine Department of Environmental Protection Gives Final Approval to the New England Clean Energy Connect

Decision represents another major milestone for the Clean Energy Corridor

AUGUSTA, MAINE – May 8, 2020 – The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) today granted permitting approval to the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC). The decision confirms the project has met or exceeded all environmental standards established by MDEP and that no other alternative routes would be an improvement on the current project design.

“The decision by the MDEP to permit the New England Clean Energy Connect represents another significant step for this project and is the culmination of a rigorous process that began more than two years ago,” said Thorn Dickinson, CEO & President of NECEC Transmission LLC.  “We look forward to working with the Commissioner and his staff to meet the conditions outlined.”

As part of the permitting process, local communities and environmental groups provided extensive input, and in the end the MDEP included several additional requirements that must be met by the project. These requirements include narrowing the width of the new section of corridor from 150 feet to 54 feet, preservation of more than 40,000 acres of land, and the allocation of nearly $2 million to replace culverts along or near the project route. The new 53-mile stretch will be maintained with taller full-height or tapered vegetation and no herbicides will be used.

“In our original proposal we worked hard to develop a project that provided robust mitigation measures to protect the environment and through this permitting process, we now have made an exceedingly good project even better for Maine,” added Dickinson. “As a result, Maine gets even more from this project in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, boosting Maine's economy, and lowering energy prices for homes and businesses.”  

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC will be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in the second quarter of 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine and the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/.

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Online Documentary Premieres to Uncover the Facts Surrounding the New England Clean Energy Connect

Online Documentary Premieres to Uncover the Facts Surrounding the New England Clean Energy Connect 

“Clearing the Air” will dispel myths about the corridor project and feature real conversations with Mainers

AUGUSTA, MAINE – May 7, 2020 – The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is the focus of a new online series of short stories that takes a deep dive into the science and facts behind the Clean Energy Corridor and the Mainers who support it.

The documentary-style series called ‘Clearing the Air’ is hosted by Thorn Dickinson, President & CEO of NECEC Transmission LLC. Thorn has travelled thousands of miles around Maine in the past few years, talking to Mainers about why this project is so important. The series follows Dickinson on his travels around the state, chronicling those conversations.

“I’ve been going from small town to small town in some of the more remote parts of Maine talking to Mainers. I appreciate the passion both supporters and opponents of the project have. I’ve enjoyed listening to their thoughts whether it be in a formal setting or a parking lot,” said Dickinson. “I want to share these conversations with other Mainers so they can make an informed decision on the NECEC. That’s what this show is all about.”

“Working on a DC transmission line is an exciting challenge for the engineers who help designed the new section of the corridor,” said NECEC project manager Adam Desrosiers. “It’s an opportunity to move Maine away from our reliance on fossil fuels and in the direction of producing and using renewable energy such as hydropower in the future.” 

‘Clearing the Air; will do exactly what its title implies. Clear the air of the misconceptions and wildly false claims being circulated surrounding the construction of the corridor.  When facts and truth are brought into the equation, there is no disputing the science that the NECEC is good for Maine.  

‘Clearing the Air’ also reminds viewers this project will remove more than three million metric tons of carbon created when we burn fossil fuels and replace that energy with carbon-free hydropower annually.

From Starks to Lewiston and points in between, Thorn has had memorable conversations with so many Mainers. The series will be aired on YouTube, Instagram and Instagram TV. You can watch episode one here: Clearing The Air.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in the second quarter of 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydro power, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine in the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

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New England Clean Energy Connect will provide significant benefits for Lewiston

 New England Clean Energy Connect will provide significant benefits for Lewiston

The city will see significant property tax revenues generated from the project

April 29, 2020-LEWISTON, MAINE– Analysis done by the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) and Lewiston’s tax assessment department shows the city will reap significant economic benefits. The new corridor will run from the Canadian border to Lewiston where it will connect to the rest of the New England grid. 

Lewiston Tax Assessor Bill Healey estimates that the $350 million investment in the city will generate property tax revenue in excess of more than $7 million in just the first year. The investment also includes upgrades to the substation located on Larrabee Road in Lewiston.

“The New England Clean Energy Connect will provide our community meaningful tax relief,” said Lewiston Mayor Mark Cayer. “The additional tax revenue will enable the city to consider reducing our local property tax rate and will help address community priorities including safe and affordable housing, education, street paving and economic development.” 

“The NECEC will bring substantial economic benefits to Maine,” said Thorn Dickinson, CEO & President of NECEC Transmission LLC. “Lewiston in particular will enjoy millions of dollars of increased tax revenue, which is critical as we experience negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mainers statewide will see other economic benefits from the NECEC, including $140 million for consumer rate relief and another $50 million for low-income customers. The NECEC will also allow for a major reduction in Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels in the fight against climate change and will account for more than 3 million metric tons of carbon that will be removed from our air annually once the NECEC is operational. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 700,000 vehicles off New England’s roads each year for the 40-year life span of the project.

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction is planned to begin once final environmental permits are received, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes, and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and economic development funding for Western Maine.

Maine businesses awarded millions in contracts to produce thousands of mats for New England Clean Energy Connect

Maine businesses awarded millions in contracts to produce thousands of mats for New England Clean Energy Connect

The contracts provide critical work and will be divided between four companies 

AUGUSTA, MAINE – April 17, 2020 – The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) today announced it has awarded nearly $7 million in matting contracts to four Maine companies. The work will be divided between Eastern Forest Products in Casco, Maine Mats in Bingham, Dimensional Timber in Palermo and Sunset Development Inc. in Milford.

“This is just another example of how the New England Clean Energy Connect is bringing jobs to Maine,” said Thorn Dickinson, President & CEO of NECEC LLC Transmission. “The corridor is projected to inject more than $570 million into Maine’s economy and will ensure steady work for Mainers in a time of great economic uncertainty.”    

These contracts will ensure the production of 17,000 mats for the project. Recently, the NECEC purchased an additional 30,000 mats from Maine contractors at a cost of $12 million. This, coupled with the announcement of $300 million worth of transmission construction contracts, translates into a $320 million dollar investment that will directly benefits Maine’s economy and the creation of more than 700 jobs.

“The economic impact of this contract can’t be overstated. It has allowed our company to purchase an additional mill and hire more employees,” said James Reinzo, Chief Executive Officer of Sunset Development Inc. “The project’s trickle-down effect will put millions into the Maine economy at a time when so many Mainers are facing economic hardship.” 

The nearly 50,000 mats which are being manufactured for the construction of the corridor will be used to create portable roads to protect the environment. To date, 9,000 of those have mats have already been completed.

The NECEC has already received permits from a number of state agencies. Additional permits required to begin construction are expected in the second quarter of 2020. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022.

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in the third quarter of 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydropower, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes, and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and economic development funding for Western Maine.

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Cianbro-Irby, NCI and Sargent Electric Awarded $300 Million in Contracts to Build and Upgrade Transmission and Provide Land Clearing for the New England Clean Energy Connect

Cianbro-Irby, NCI and Sargent Electric Awarded $300 Million in Contracts to Build and Upgrade Transmission and Provide Land Clearing for the New England Clean Energy Connect

Project will create more than 1,600 direct jobs annually during construction with preference for Maine workers 

AUGUSTA, MAINE – April 8, 2020 – The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) today announced it has awarded more than $300 million in contracts to Maine-based Cianbro in a joint venture with Irby Construction, Sargent Electric, and Northern Clearing, Inc. (NCI) to build and upgrade transmission and provide land clearing for the project.  Sargent Electric and NCI have significant employee presence in Maine and are IBEW Local 104 contractors.  The companies will subcontract work to other Maine-based suppliers, contractors and consultants with preference for hiring Maine workers when possible. 

“The clean energy corridor will bring jobs and significant economic benefits to Maine,” said Thorn Dickinson, President & CEO of NECEC LLC Transmission. “In addition to the 1,600 jobs that will be created annually during construction, the project will indirectly support employment in local businesses in towns from Jackman to Lewiston. The clean energy corridor is projected to inject more than $570 million into Maine’s economy and these contracts represent $300 million that is going to Maine companies to deliver high quality jobs for Mainers.”    

Cianbro, Maine’s largest general contractor, in a joint venture with transmission construction company Irby Construction, will construct the new, high voltage DC transmission line that will run 145 miles from the Canadian border to a substation in Lewiston, Maine. Sargent Electric will perform transmission line upgrades required for the project, specifically on a segment from Wiscasset to Windsor and others in the Lewiston-Auburn area. NCI will provide all clearing and access road improvement work.  

“This is a significant contract for our company and our state. We are eager to put Maine people to work on this important project that brings both clean energy and economic benefits to the State,” said Andi Vigue, President and CEO at Cianbro.

Cianbro-Irby teamed up similarly to construct the $1.4 billion Maine Power Reliability Project which was completed in 2015 on time and under budget.  As part of this contract, they expect to hire 260 employees. 

“This project gives us the opportunity to expand our work in Maine which has spanned over a decade.  The contract will significantly increase our presence here from our current several dozen employees to as many as 350 so we can take on this work,” said Shawn Mitchell, East Coast Regional Manager at NCI.  

“We are absolutely ready to play a critical part in this important investment in Maine’s electrical grid,” said Joe Ebersbach, Vice President of Sargent Electric’s Utility Division.  “We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Sargent Electric and NCI are both signatory IBEW Local 104 contractors; all labor required for their work will come from the IBEW Local 104.  

“More than 70 percent of the workers will be IBEW 104 members. The NECEC will create several years’ worth of steady work for our members at a time when it looks like we’ll need it most,” said Tim Burgess, Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local 104.  “I can’t tell you how important that is right now given the sudden economic climate we are in.” 

To date, the NECEC has received permits from a number of State agencies and additional permits required to begin construction are expected in the second quarter of 2020. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022.

For more information about the New England Clean Energy Connect, please visit our website at https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950 million investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels while simultaneously lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The 145-mile transmission line will be built on land owned or controlled by Central Maine Power.  The 53 miles of new corridor on working forest land will use a new clearing technique of tapered vegetation; the remaining two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in the second quarter of 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022.

The project will create more than 1,600 good-paying jobs during the two-and-a-half-year construction period, provide $200 million in upgrades to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable.  The NECEC will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid, and because the corridor project will use clean hydro power, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million metric tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine in the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

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Maine Business, Environmental and Labor Leaders Gather in Portland to Support Major Renewable Energy Project

Maine Business, Environmental and Labor Leaders Gather in Portland to Support Major Renewable Energy Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Transmission project will create more than 1,600 jobs, deliver $1 billion of investment in Maine infrastructure for a more reliable grid, and reduce energy prices and carbon emissions

PORTLAND, Maine – Feb. 20, 2020 – More than 50 Maine business, labor and environmental leaders gathered today to show their support for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project, a $1 billion renewable energy investment project which would bring renewable hydropower from Quebec. The event, hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), the company that is building the project, included participants such as IBEW 104, Cianbro and Glidden Mat.

Glidden Mat of Parkman, along with Oxford Timber of Oxford and Maine Timber Mats of New Portland, are the three Maine-based lumber mills that last week were awarded contracts to manufacture mats that will be used in the construction process to limit the impact of heavy machinery on the landscape.  

“On the heels of the announcement of the $12 million investment in Maine businesses, it is terrific to see the opportunities that an investment in the future of our energy grid will mean for Maine businesses and workers. Just as we saw with the Maine Power Reliability Program, these projects benefit Mainers all over the state,” said Dana Connors, the president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

“Not only will NECEC reduce carbon emissions by 3 million metric tons annually, reduce energy costs, and strengthen the regional electric grid, it will also have an immediate and positive impact on the Maine economy,” said Thorn Dickinson, Vice President of Business Development for AVANGRID. “As we get closer to starting construction, these types of contracts are just some of the tangible benefits this project will deliver to Mainers and Maine communities.”

“This project creates job security for our 16 employees, and enables us to update equipment here in Maine,” said Pete Glidden, the owner of Glidden Mat. “From logging crews to machinists to trucking companies and the taxes to local communities, projects like these support working forest jobs all over the timber supply chain in this state.”

“Building electrical infrastructure is our area of expertise, but on a fairly consistent basis, our line workers, apprentices, equipment operators, truck drivers and groundmen find themselves traveling to other states for work,” said Tim Burgess, the assistant business manager for IBEW Local 104. “When a project like the NECEC comes along, they all look forward to showcasing their skills in their home state.”

“In addition to the climate change issue, which greatly disturbs me, I am profoundly persuaded by the economic benefits that will accrue to the state of Maine and to Maine people as a result of this project,” said Richard Barringer, former Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation. 

“The NECEC project is one of the most significant projects to be built in Maine’s history. The project will expand Maine’s tax base and economy and create jobs, all while providing renewable energy to the New England Power Pool without any cost to the people of Maine,” said Peter Vigue, Chairman, The Cianbro Companies.

“This project will provide clean, renewable and low-cost energy for New England and Maine, and represents a major investment in Maine’s economy, creating jobs and supporting economic development,” said Pedro Azagra Blázquez, Chief Development Officer at IBERDROLA and board member at AVANGRID.

AVANGRID also announced today that it has taken steps per state regulatory direction to separate NECEC from Central Maine Power by appointing Tony Marone as chair and Thorn Dickinson as CEO & president of NECEC Transmission LLC, which will own and develop NECEC after receiving regulatory approvals. The transfer of NECEC is required by the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s order approving a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project.

ABOUT THE NECEC PROJECT

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a $950m investment that will deliver 1,200 megawatts of renewable hydropower to the New England energy grid in Lewiston, Maine. All the costs will be paid for by Massachusetts electric customers. Once built, the NECEC would be New England’s largest source of renewable energy, representing a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels and at the same time lowering energy costs in Maine and New England.

The transmission line will be built on a 150-foot-wide, 145-mile transmission line on land owned and controlled by CMP. Two-thirds of the project follows existing power lines created for the state’s hydroelectric industry almost a century ago. The remaining 55 miles of new corridor will run through commercial working forest. Construction will begin as soon as final environmental permits are received, expected in Q2 2020, with the construction completed and the line in service by December 2022. 

The NECEC project includes a $200 million upgrade to Maine’s energy grid, making Maine’s electricity service more reliable, and it will allow more producers of renewable energy here in Maine to get their energy on the grid. And because the corridor project will result in more clean hydro power, it will reduce the use of fossil fuels, cutting three million tons of dirty emissions each year. 

The NECEC will also deliver significant economic benefits to Maine in the region, including lower electricity prices, increased local real estate taxes and reduced energy costs, as well as benefits like expanded fiber optic cable for broadband service in Somerset and Franklin counties, and funding of economic development for Western Maine.

#  # #

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $34 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.2 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

Media Contacts: 

• Ed Crowder ed.crowder@avangrid.com 203.499.2537 (business hours)

• 24/7 Media Hotline 833.MEDIA.55 (833.633.4255)

New England Clean Energy Connect Receives LUPC Approval

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Augusta, ME — January 8, 2020 — CMP is pleased to announce that the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) received a key state approval today from Maine’s Land Use Planning  Commission (LUPC). With an added condition to ensure the company maintains buffering measures at the Kennebec River gorge area, the Commission voted 5-2 to issue site law certification to 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 is planned to provide 1,200 megawatts of transmission capacity and deliver clean, renewable electricity to the New England grid from hydro-power resources in Québec and 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. 

#  # #

About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899 and based in Augusta, Maine, CMP serves approximately 624,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine. It operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines. Over the last decade, the company has invested approximately $2.6 billion in Maine system infrastructure. In 2019, CMP was named Large Business of the Year by the Kennebec Valley United Way. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $34 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.2 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

Media Contact: 

Catharine Hartnett

Catharine.Hartnett@Avangrid.com

207.629-1555 (office)

207.458-3510 (cell)

Statement: Maine Land Use Planning Commission Decision

January 8, 2020 - “We are pleased by the decision of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to grant certification to the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project.  This decision recognizes that the NECEC is well-designed and sited to meet all LUPC land use standards, and it is clear that the LUPC commissioners and professional staff have diligently studied the record and project testimony in reaching their decision.  NECEC is vital to Maine’s future both environmentally and economically and we look forward to obtaining other necessary federal, state and municipal approvals and beginning construction on the clean energy corridor later this year.”

Thorn Dickinson, Vice-President of Business Development, Avangrid

Maine’s Envirothon Champions from Spruce Mountain High School Qualify for North American Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maine’s Envirothon Champions from Spruce Mountain High School Qualify for North American Competition

Donations from Central Maine Power and many other local businesses and individuals help pay for the team’s trip to North Carolina.

Jay, Maine – July 24, -- The Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon team will test its wits against other top teams from the U.S., Canada and China as they take part in the North American Envirothon Competition. As part of its extensive preparations for the event, the students and teacher Rob Taylor took an in-depth look at the New England Clean Energy Connect and decided as a group the project is beneficial to Maine.

“CMP is very proud to be sponsoring this group of young, very talented individuals who are heading off to a fantastic competition,” said Herling. “I’m very impressed with their knowledge of the NECEC project and how they looked at the benefits and impacts and came to the conclusion it’s the right thing for us to do. It’s the right thing for our environment and our state.”

The students have been fundraising and local businesses and individuals are contributing to help pay the costs of a trip to the national competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. On Tuesday, Central Maine Power President & CEO Doug Herling met with the team and presented them with a donation of $1,500 on behalf of CMP.

“These kids are going to be adults in 2050. That’s the year everybody is pointing to as to when we will truly feel the impacts of climate change,” said Taylor. “For these kids, 2050 is a real thing. They have to live in that world and when you look at the big picture, they want to take some action.”

Envirothon is North America’s largest high school environmental competition and is sponsored by the National Conservation Foundation. Students learn knowledge and skills in the areas of Forestry, Wildlife, Soils, and Aquatic Ecology in their own backyard, then use that knowledge to solve a problem within a challenging scenario at the competition. 

Last year’s team, also from Spruce Mountain, had the best finish ever by a Maine team, placing first in the Aquatic Ecology category and sixth overall. Three members of last year’s team, John Brenner, Hunter Quirrion and Orion Schwab are returning for another run at the title this year.

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About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899, CMP serves approximately 624,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine.   CMP operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines; over the last decade the company has invested approximately $2.6 billion in Maine system infrastructure. In 2019, CMP was named Large Business of the Year by the Kennebec Valley United Way.  

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $32 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.1 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, received a Climate Development Project climate score of “A-,” the top score received in the utilities sector, and has been recognized for two consecutive years by Ethical Boardroom as the North American utility with the “best corporate governance practices.” For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. 

Media Contact: 

Ted Varipatis
Serra Public Affairs
207-415-6182 / ted@serrapublicaffairs.com

Statement: Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Approval

June 26, 2019 - Central Maine Power (CMP) welcomes the approval of the New England Clean Energy Connect contracts by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). After nearly a year of analysis, the DPU’s decision marks another milestone in the public review of this important initiative to bring new clean energy to New England. Policy makers, environmental leaders and supporters of the project in Maine can regard this as further confirmation the project will substantively advance Maine’s and the region’s transition to a cleaner, more affordable, more resilient energy future. 

The Massachusetts regulators concluded the NECEC will lower carbon emissions in the region by removing 3 (to 3.6) million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year – the equivalent of removing annual emissions created by 700,000 cars – while providing direct savings to ratepayers for decades to come.  The Maine Public Utilities Commission reached similar conclusions regarding the emissions reductions from the NECEC, and their approval included provisions for $258 million in additional local benefits for Mainers, including $18 million in new property taxes for host communities, $15 million in broadband investments, and $30 million for electric vehicles and heat pumps for Maine consumers.

Through this project, CMP is proud to work in partnership with the region’s environmental leaders in response to a changing climate. Hydro-power from Canada delivered by the NECEC will displace electricity primarily from plants that burn coal, oil, and natural gas in New England. The new supply of clean energy will reduce carbon emissions, provide more reliable energy supplies for the region, and help to keep future electricity costs lower for homeowners and businesses, especially in winter when prices for electricity and natural gas can spike.

Mainers Voice Their Support for the New England Clean Energy Connect

April 26, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ted Varipatis
Serra Public Affairs
207-415-6182 / ted@serrapublicaffairs.com

Mainers Voice Their Support for the New England Clean Energy Connect

The New England Clean Energy Connect launches a statewide advertising effort featuring Mainers showing their excitement about the effect of the project in the state.

Augusta, Maine – Supporters of the New England Clean Energy Connect announced Friday afternoon a new statewide advertising campaign featuring Mainers talking about the benefits the project brings to Maine and how it will positively affect them.

The first ad features Will Purington II, a Central Maine business owner, father and outdoorsman. He talks about how the more than 1,600 construction jobs the project will create provides stability in the local construction industry while keeping Maine workers in our state. You can view the ad here.

The advertising is scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 28th, and will be seen on local television statewide, and on various cable outlets and digital platforms.

About the New England Clean Energy Connect

Maine ratepayers need reliable and affordable clean energy. By harnessing Canadian hydropower, the New England Clean Energy Connect will address climate change in Maine and the region by reducing carbon emissions. With no cost to Maine ratepayers, the project will also increase Maine’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by more than half a billion dollars, bring a $1 billion infrastructure investment to Maine, reduce prices for Maine ratepayers and have positive local revenue impacts. For more information on the project go to www.necleanenergyconnect.org.

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Maine Public Utilities Commission Approves New England Clean Energy Connect

Maine Public Utilities Commission Approves New England Clean Energy Connect

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Augusta, ME — April 11, 2019 — The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) received a key state approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Commission voted to grant Central Maine Power’s petition for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for its proposal to build an electric transmission line from the Maine/Quebec border to Lewiston, Maine.

“We are thrilled that the Commission has voted in favor of this project.  This approval marks a major milestone for the NECEC and for the region’s efforts to secure a future of clean, reliable energy,” said Doug Herling, president and CEO of Central Maine Power. “Today’s decision confirms the New England Clean Energy Connect will deliver environmental, economic, energy security, and other benefits for Maine and for consumers throughout New England.”

The NECEC is planned to provide 1,200 megawatts of transmission capacity and deliver clean, renewable electricity to the New England Grid from hydro-power resources in Québec.  The Commission’s decision comes at the end of an in-depth 18-month analysis weighing the impacts and benefits of the project for Maine consumers.

Central Maine Power proposed the NECEC in response to a solicitation by Massachusetts utilities in response to that state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, which set goals to increase supplies of electricity from clean, renewable sources for Massachusetts consumers. The Commission’s decision comes at the end of an in-depth analysis by the Commission staff and consultants to weigh the impacts and benefits of the project for Maine consumers. The Commission’s findings directly rebut arguments from parties representing the electricity generation industry that oppose policymakers’ efforts to address climate change and the region’s heavy dependence on costly fossil fuel energy supplies.

“Addressing the twin challenges of climate change and energy affordability will require a sustained, regional commitment to action,” said Herling. “The need for progress should always be weighed against the impacts and benefits of every project, and the NECEC is no exception. In this case, we believe the Commission gave due consideration to all perspectives, and as this decision shows, the balance strongly favors our project. ”

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About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899, CMP operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 624,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $32 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.1 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

Media Contact:

• John Carroll
  John.Carroll@Avangrid.com
  207.458.9889