The big story of the past month is the announcement by Governor Mills that Hydro-Québec has signed a formal binding commitment to sell electricity directly to Maine at a discounted price via the NECEC. This commitment will result in enough clean energy to power approximately 70,000 homes or 10,000 businesses in Maine. The new agreement also ensures that Maine will see increased benefits from this project several years earlier than planned. Maine’s Public Advocate Barry Hobbins endorsed the deal, saying, “This commitment adds to the already significant stipulation that was negotiated and ensures that Maine ratepayers will receive lower cost electricity as a result of this project.”
We are awaiting word from the Army Corps of Engineers on its decision to permit the NECEC. To this point, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have done its due diligence in the permitting process and all agree the corridor will be beneficial for Maine both environmentally and economically. The NECEC has consistently met every benchmark through the entire permitting process which began more than three years ago.
Our weekly online documentary, “Clearing the Air” has produced some thoughtful, meaningful, and downright entertaining episodes in recent weeks. Tony Buxton from the Industrial Energy Consumer Group and noted Maine constitutional lawyer Orlando Delogu both eloquently explained why the referendum to stop the NECEC may very well be unconstitutional. The matter has been appealed to the Maine Supreme Court which is expected to issue a ruling in August. In our most recent episodes, Lewiston Director of Economic Development Linc Jeffers spoke to me about why this project means so much to that community. I also had a highly energized conversation with Joe Christopher regarding the support that Western Maine Mountains and Rivers has expressed for the Clean Energy Corridor. You can watch every episode of "Clearing the Air" here.
July update