Today (October 3 2024) the US Department of Energy announced that they will provide funding for the Aroostook Renewable Project, as well as three other projects around the country.
The funding for the Maine project was allocated to Avangrid (CMP). This means that the transmission line will likely be placed on the already-owned “MEPCO” corridor that runs (approximately) between Lincoln and Corrina.
As far as I know, LS Power did not receive any funding for this project.
What’s good about this is that the chances of eminent domain being used are greatly diminished.
What’s challenging is that it implies another transmission line across the state, across fields and forests.
Some key points:
The project is not final.
Maine state is still the project administrator. This means your state reps have a clear voice. If you are concerned, get in touch with them.
The project will go through the same PUC-orchestrated RFP process that happened before. If you want to change PUC process, your state reps are the pathway.
The project is still expected to go through DEP permitting, and Army Corp permitting.
The project still needs to be approved by ISO-NE.
Thus, anything getting built is still a few years out.
Based on this DOE funding announcement, my best guess of how this project will look is below.
“Greenfield” transmission is the term used when new corridors must be cut and cleared. In this case, the greenfield portions are already owned by MEPCO as easements or outright ownership – limiting the potential of eminent domain takings. However, they are still brand-new corridors through forests/ fields, and likely will cause property value diminution for abutters.
When the PUC issues the RFP, I’ll post it here. The last action item from the PUC was issuance of the RFI, docket number 2024-00099 in May of 2024.
Independent (i.e. apolitical) cost/benefit analysis for such a project is still very unknown, as total project costs to taxpayers and ratepayers are unknown.