AUGUSTA, Maine — Energy sector officials in New Hampshire took another swing on Tuesday at landing a share of a lucrative energy contract with southern New England states in an impending bidding war that is likely to attract companies from Maine.
The Northern Pass project would transmit power generated by hydroelectric plants in Quebec through New Hampshire. The 192-mile energy transmission cable plan has been under development for years but has encountered resistance because of the environmental impact it would have in the White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian Trail and Franconia Notch, among other scenic recreation areas.
Eversource Operations, the firm that is proposing the power line, unveiled a new version of its plan on Tuesday. The new plan includes burying an unprecedented 60 miles of the line through the most fragile areas and reducing the transmission capacity from previous goals.
Part of the justification for the project is an upcoming bidding process to sell renewable energy, such as hydropower and wind-generated electricity, to high-energy consumers such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
“A lot of developers, including the Northern Pass project, have been trying to sharpen their pencils ahead of time to bid on that project,” said Patrick Woodcock, director of Gov. Paul LePage’s energy office. “It’s been anticipated that there will be a variety of proposals throughout New England and including in Maine.”
Woodcock has told the Bangor Daily News in the past that NextEra Energy and Central Maine Power Co. have considered bidding on building a transmission line from Canada to southern New England through western Maine. The implications of the outcome of the request for proposals could be huge for whichever project, or mix of projects, wins the contract.
Supporters say the project offers long-term benefits for New England because it would help stabilize and likely lower energy prices here.
“This project is going to have a significant effect on lowering and taking the volatility out of future energy prices,” said Bill Quinlan, president of Eversource Operations in New Hampshire, during an event Tuesday in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. “It’s very difficult to plan your business and run your business when there are wild swings in energy costs.”
Woodcock said that Maine doesn’t have a policy to pursue Canadian hydropower for direct use here but it’s in the state’s best interest for dam-generated electricity to flow south. LePage repeatedly has advocated for measures that would open Maine markets to Canadian hydropower.
“The whole region is looking at both hydropower and natural gas to achieve economic objectives and lower prices as well as achieve environmental objectives,” said Woodcock. “That’s why it’s very important that big states like Massachusetts and Connecticut look at trying to purchase Canadian hydropower.”
Woodcock said he expects Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island to release their request for proposals by the end of this year.
