The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) has granted final permitting approval for the project. The decision confirms that the NECEC has met or exceeded all environmental standards established by the MDEP and that the current design is the best route for the project. The MDEP decision adds several new conditions which make an incredibly good project even better. These include narrowing the width of the corridor from 150 feet to 54 feet, the preservation of 40,000 acres of land and the allocation of nearly $2 million to replace culverts along or near the project route. The next permit in the process is from the Army Corps of Engineers, and we continue to plan on breaking ground on the NECEC later this year.
Also, AVANGRID Networks, the parent company of CMP, has filed a lawsuit supported by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Energy Consumer’s Group (IECG). It questions the constitutionality of the referendum proposed by opponents of the NECEC. 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, the referendum exceeds the legislative power provided to the people under the Constitution. Second, the referendum violates the separation of powers provision of the Maine Constitution. A decision is expected in the coming months.
MDEP has granted final permitting approval