Hydro-Quebec to sell discounted electricity to Maine as part of NECEC project, state says

PROJECT... ARGUING THE QUEBEC-TO- MASSACHUSETTS LINE WON'T JUST BENEFIT THE BAYSTATE. 1'23" : AND THIS GIVES US A BIG CHUNK OF RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT IS VERY, VERY LOW COST TONY BUXTON IS GENERAL COUNSEL WITH THE INDUSTRIAL ENERGY CONSUMER GROUP - - ONE OF SEVERAL COALITIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE CENTRAL MAINE POWER'S PROJECT. 4'04" : WE WANT, OVER TIME, TO SWITCH FOSSIL FUEL USE TO ELECTRICITY - AND TO DO THAT, ELECTRICITY HAS TO BE LESS EXPENSIVE <GFX> HYDRO QUEBEC COMMITTED TO SUPPLYING 500- THOUSAND MEGAWATT HOURS TO MAINE AT A FOUR-DOLLAR DISCOUNT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. MILLS' OFFICE SAYS IT'S ENOUGH TO POWER 70- THOUSAND HOMES 9'14" : WE NOW HAVE VIRTUALLY OUR OWN LINE PAID FOR BY MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH QUEBEC OVER WHIC WE GET CHEAP POWER BUXTON SAYS MAINE'S RATE WOULD BE ROUGHLY HALF OF WHAT MASSACHUSETTS'. 0'30" : IT'S SORT OF A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING WHILE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SUPPORT THE PROJECT -- SAYING IT WILL PRIORITIZE CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES OVER FOSSIL FUELS... BUT SUE ELY AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL ARGUES IT WOULD HAVE LITTLE CLIMATE BENEIFT -- AND WOULD STILL IMPACT CRITICAL HABITATS. 3'18" : IT'S JUST NOT SUPPORTING OR HELPING MAINE'S OWN RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR - SO WE REALLY WANNA SEE US FOCUSING ON BUILDING THOSE JOBS HERE IN MAINE TODAY'S AGREEMENT ACCELERATES AN ADDITIONA 170 MILLION DOLLARS OF INCENTIVES TO MAINE... CREATING FUNDS FOR RATE RELIEF, LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS, HEAT PUMPS, BROADBAND, AND MORE. 5'30" : BUT IT STARTED ONLY WHEN THE POWER WAS STARTING TO FLOW. NOW IT'S GOING TO START AS SOON AS THE FINAL PERMITS ARE ISSUED. VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN NOVEMBER WHETHER TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO REVERSE COURSE - AND REJECT THE PROPOSAL. THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT RECENTLY RULED IN FAVOR OF THE QUESTION REMAINING O THE BALLOT -- BUT GROUPS I SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT HAVE APPEALED THAT DECISION LIVE IN LEWISTON JG WMTW NEWS

Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday that Hydro-Quebec has signed a deal with the state to provide discounted electricity to Maine as part of the New England Clean Energy Connect project.The $1 billion project calls for a transmission line to be built through western Maine to bring electricity into Maine to reach Massachusetts.Mills, who announced her support for the project last year, said the deal with Hydro-Quebec will provide enough electricity to power 70,000 homes or 10,000 businesses in Maine. "I have heard people say that the NECEC will deliver power directly to Massachusetts but not to Maine," Mills said in a statement. "With this new commitment, we ensure that Maine consumers access power directly from the line at a discounted price."The governor's office also said Hydro-Quebec will accelerate $170 million in benefits negotiated last year.The benefits include rate relief for Maine consumers and incentives for broadband, electric vehicle charging stations, and heat pumps, Mills said.The project has faced intense opposition in that part of the state is the subject to a November referendum asking voters to block the project.However, the referendum is facing an ongoing legal challenge. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is expected to rule before ballots are printed in late August whether the question will actually appear on the ballot.The Natural Resources Council of Maine, which opposes the project, called Friday's announcement "a public relations gimmick.""The so-called “rate relief” is insignificant, providing only a maximum amount of 12 cents in savings per month for a household electricity bill of $100. That doesn’t come anywhere close to making up for CMP’s rate increases this year alone that add up to over $4.00 per month for the average Mainer. With Hydro-Quebec standing to make $12.4 billion over 20 years and CMP and shareholders angling for $2.9 billion in profits over 20 years, these crumbs for Mainers are insulting, especially given the irreparable harm this project would cause to Western Maine,” clean energy attorney Sue Ely said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

AUGUSTA, Maine —

Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday that Hydro-Quebec has signed a deal with the state to provide discounted electricity to Maine as part of the New England Clean Energy Connect project.

The $1 billion project calls for a transmission line to be built through western Maine to bring electricity into Maine to reach Massachusetts.

Mills, who announced her support for the project last year, said the deal with Hydro-Quebec will provide enough electricity to power 70,000 homes or 10,000 businesses in Maine.

"I have heard people say that the NECEC will deliver power directly to Massachusetts but not to Maine," Mills said in a statement. "With this new commitment, we ensure that Maine consumers access power directly from the line at a discounted price."

The governor's office also said Hydro-Quebec will accelerate $170 million in benefits negotiated last year.

The benefits include rate relief for Maine consumers and incentives for broadband, electric vehicle charging stations, and heat pumps, Mills said.

The project has faced intense opposition in that part of the state is the subject to a November referendum asking voters to block the project.

However, the referendum is facing an ongoing legal challenge.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is expected to rule before ballots are printed in late August whether the question will actually appear on the ballot.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine, which opposes the project, called Friday's announcement "a public relations gimmick."

"The so-called “rate relief” is insignificant, providing only a maximum amount of 12 cents in savings per month for a household electricity bill of $100. That doesn’t come anywhere close to making up for CMP’s rate increases this year alone that add up to over $4.00 per month for the average Mainer. With Hydro-Quebec standing to make $12.4 billion over 20 years and CMP and shareholders angling for $2.9 billion in profits over 20 years, these crumbs for Mainers are insulting, especially given the irreparable harm this project would cause to Western Maine,” clean energy attorney Sue Ely said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hydro-Quebec to sell discounted electricity to Maine as part of NECEC project, state says

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