The PUC has opened a comment period related to eminent domain notification and transmission lines.
To view the docket and other comments: 2025-00279
To leave a comment, click here. (Note: commenting does not work in all browsers. It fails for me in Brave, but works in Firefox. You should see a comment post success notice if your comment goes through.)
I am pleased to see that the PUC suggests notice should be provided to land owners no less than 45 days after the transmission developer is selected. (If this rule had been in place in 2022, you would have received a letter by certified mail just before Christmas of 2022, not 8 months after the award.)
However, I am concerned that the notice is only for projects related to the Northern Maine Transmission Line (MRS 3210-I(2)) The intention was to provide proper notice to land owners in Maine regardless of the originating legislation for the transmission line.
Please consider making comments that reflect this discrepancy.
Initial Comments are requested by November 4 2025.
There is a public hearing November 7 2025 at 1pm.
Final written comments are due November 18 2025.
Background:
In 2024, LD 2087 was signed into law to protect property owners who faced eminent domain in several ways.
This law aims to protect land owners in these ways:
Allowing transmission lines to cross rail trails without a vote of the legislature
For properties less than 200 acres, transmission developers must make an offer for both the entire parcel, as well as just the portion needed for the transmission line
Property owner entitled to damages (Money) for all property taken
Clear and comprehensive notice must be given to property owners whose land is considered for eminent domain taking
a partial protection for fees and attorney’s expenses that the property owner might need to undertake in order to prove the true market value of their parcel
Transmission developer must conduct at least one public meeting prior to submission of its application, and these public meetings shall include proposed routes
The complete law is linked here and you can download a copy below:
