Contract negotiations are underway for an 800-MW onshore wind technology venture to be evolved via Clearway Power Staff LLC in northern Maine, that house’s biggest so far, and a 1,200 MW transmission line that utiity Avangrid will construct to glue the facility into the regional grid, the state energy regulator mentioned in overdue August. These days, the state has 900 MW of working onshore wind capability and seeks to chop relicance on oil-fueled heating..
The Maine Public Utilities Fee authorized the tasks on Aug. 26 that may allow the state to buy about 600 MW of the output from the venture in Aroostook County that abuts the Canadian border and has sturdy wind assets, with the remaining to be channeled into the New England grid shared additionally via Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont, fee spokesperson Susan Faloon informed ENR.
The high-voltage transmission line will prolong from Haynesville in Aroostook County for approximately 111 miles to Pittsfield, Maine the place it’ll hyperlink into the regional grid. The states will proportion transmission line prices equivalent to the worth
supplied, however with Maine answerable for not more than 11% of the associated fee.
The fee didn’t announce the venture price, however prior to now had projected it at $1.8 billion over a 30-year duration
“Creating new power assets and transmission in Northern Maine can lend a hand ship extra reasonably priced and dependable energy, toughen our grid, scale back Maine’s publicity to power price volatility and create hundreds of jobs and new financial alternatives in rural communities,” Gov. Janet Generators mentioned in a remark.
The states will
additionally coordinate price allocation, interconnection requirements and venture
oversight, a job Commissioner Carrie Gilbert notes will probably be difficult, with “other procurement processes and legislative schedules.”
The tasks are topic to federal environmental have an effect on opinions, with the transmission line additionally wanting Federal Power Regulatory Commision approval, Faloon mentioned. The fee has beneficial that the New England States Committee on Electrical energy, the regional state committee known via FERC, paintings with the taking part states and Avangrid to finalize a voluntary settlement to be submitted to FERC for approval.
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Contractors have no longer been named for the venture, nor have venture specifics been finalized, she mentioned.
The tasks are key in Maine’s purpose to cut back its reliance on oil-based residential heating, now at 50%. The state goals to chop the percentage of houses the usage of oil warmth to 30% via 2030. The formidable Maine venture comes as New England’s annual electrical energy intake is projected to develop 9% via 2035 in line with the latest 10-year forecast, mentioned Matthew Kakley, spokesman for impartial regional grid operator ISO New England.
The 2025 Maine Power Plan calls for 90% of power from blank power via 2030, and 100% via 2040. The opposite 4 states are concentrated on 100% blank power with Rhode Island via 2033, Vermont via 2035, Connecticut via 2040 and Massachusetts via 2050.
“This venture has demonstrated that separate sovereign governments can paintings in combination to plot for and obtain important transmission and technology investments, and maximum unusually, agree on methods to proportion the prices and advantages of the ones investments,” Commissioner Patrick Scully mentioned. “I feel this effort merits nationwide consideration and gives a style for different areas to paintings collaboratively to fulfill not unusual power, local weather and reliability objectives.”
The venture may just save consumers $387 million and lend a hand meet Maine’s blank power objectives, Speaker of the Area Ryan Facteau (D) mentioned on Fb, including that with oil worth volatility, “homegrown power secures our independence.” However venture opponent Maine Rep. Reagan Paul, mentioned in a social media put up that she is fascinated with upper prices for ratepayers.
“This venture will ship lasting financial advantages for northern Maine and lend a hand stabilize power expenses for many years to return,” mentioned Nick Benjamin, Clearway Power senior building director.
“In depth engineering, environmental overview, allowing, and group engagement stay forward,” Avangrid spokesperson Jon Breed mentioned, however famous that the transmission path can have “heavy reliance” on present energy corridors and rights-of-way.
