Massachusetts ratepayers to pay extra $512M for transmission line for Canadian hydropower

Three Massachusetts utilities and a transmission statement developer person agreed to walk on $512 cardinal successful added costs to Massachusetts ratepayers for an electrical transmission task successful occidental Maine

PORTLAND, Maine -- Three Massachusetts utilities and Central Maine Power’s genitor institution person agreed that Massachusetts ratepayers must enarthrosis $512 cardinal successful further costs caused by delays successful building of a powerfulness transmission task successful Maine that will let Canadian hydropower to scope nan New England powerfulness grid.

Proponents said Wednesday that the project aimed astatine supplying capable cleanable power to powerfulness astir 1 cardinal homes still represents a bully woody contempt delays and caller costs.

“Even pinch these unanticipated costs, this is cleanable power astatine a beautiful bully price. I’m not judge we’ll beryllium astatine prices this debased successful nan future. So we should grit our teeth, sorb nan other disbursal and get connected pinch it,” said Massachusetts authorities Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington, co-chair of nan Legislature’s Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee.

The project’s costs grew from $1 cardinal to astatine slightest $1.5 cardinal because of ostentation and delays caused by opponents, requiring nan Massachusetts Legislature to springiness its support precocious past twelvemonth for astir of nan added costs to beryllium passed connected to ratepayers.

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and lawyer general’s agency signed onto nan agreement, which nan parties submitted to nan authorities Department of Utilities for support connected Monday.

Supporters of nan task opportunity nan 1,200 megawatts of energy it provides would little electrical rates crossed nan region, trim c contamination and thief Massachusetts to meet its cleanable power goals.

“This transmission statement should thrust down wide energy prices and present new, reliable powerfulness to Massachusetts and New England arsenic we modulation to cleanable energy. We look guardant to cleanable hydropower to statesman flowing to our authorities soon,” said Elizabeth Mahoney, power resources commissioner, and Liz Anderson, from nan lawyer general's office.

Documents revenge pinch nan Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities bespeak Massachusetts ratepayers would prevention astir $3.4 cardinal complete nan 20-year statement based connected forecasted prices.

Central Maine Power’s genitor company, Avangrid, and Canada’s Hydro Quebec teamed up connected nan task that called for a 145-mile (233-kilometer) powerfulness transmission line, mostly pursuing existing corridors. But a caller 53-mile (85-kilometer) conception had to beryllium carved done nan woods to scope nan Canadian border, thing biology and conservation groups decried.

The task had to flooded aggregate hurdles.

It won each regulatory approvals, but activity was halted aft Maine voters rebuked nan task successful a November 2021 referendum. A assemblage concluded the referendum was unconstitutional because it violated nan developers' vested rights.