U.S. firm to appeal for Northern Pass project

Hydro-Québec partner studying New Hampshire panel report

Even though the Northern Pass project to export hydro power from Quebec to the United States was rejected by regulators in the state of New Hampshire, the utility’s American partner says it’s still hoping to obtain authorization to build the transmission line by filing an appeal.

Martin Murray, a spokesperson for Eversource Energy, HydroQuébec’s American partner, confirmed to Canadian Press on Tuesday that the company plans to file a request with the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (NHSEC) to reconsider its decision.

In a 287-page report made public on Friday, the regulatory body formally rejected the application of Hydro-Québec’s partner to build the line to deliver hydro power from Quebec through New Hampshire.

“After 70 days of evidentiary hearings where we heard from 154 witnesses and reviewed more than 2,000 exhibits, we cannot find that the applicant has met its burden of proof,” the NHSEC concluded.

“The applicant has failed to prove … that the site and facility, as proposed, will not unduly interfere with the orderly development of the region.”

Murray said Eversource Energy is continuing to examine the NHSEC’s report.

“Now that we have a written decision in hand, we’ll be able to analyze the arguments to better respond (in our appeal),” he said.

The Northern Pass would cost $680 million for the Quebec side and $1.6 billion for the U.S. side.

Massachusetts initially approved the transmission line to bring up to 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity annually from Quebec’s hydroelectric plants to the state for 20 years starting in 2020. The line would go through New Hampshire.

The transmission line already obtained necessary permits from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Forest Service.

Following the NHSEC’s refusal to issue the necessary authorization, however, the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced it would move forward with an alternative plan called New England Clean Energy Connect that would go through Maine rather than New

Now that we have a written decision in hand, we’ll be able to analyze the arguments to better respond.

Hampshire. The US$950-million hydro power project is proposed by Central Maine Power Co. and Hydro-Québec and is to begin in 2022.

Hydro-Québec and Central Maine Power have until April 25 to reach a deal. Hydro- Québec will also have to conduct impact studies and technical and environmental studies. It will also have to decide on a route in Quebec to build a transmission line to the Maine border.

While Massachusetts is favourable to the alternative, HydroQuébec and Eversource Energy are continuing to call the Northern Pass a “good project” that has a reason to exist.

Presse Canadienne