Construction costs halting restart work on New England Clean Energy Corridor - WMTW Portland

Construction costs halting restart work on New England Clean Energy Corridor

The state of Maine lifted its stop-work order two months ago after a jury ruled that developers, Central Maine Power's corporate parent and Hydro-Quebec, completed enough work to finish the project.

Partners of the $1 billion New England Clean Energy Corridor project that would bring Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid are trying to sort out how construction cost increases will be shared in hopes of getting the stalled project which was supposed to be operational this year — moving.

The project was halted in 2021 after a referendum over a new 53-mile section that had to be carved through the woods of western Maine.

The state of Maine lifted its stop-work order two months ago after a jury ruled that developers, Central Maine Power's corporate parent and Hydro-Quebec, completed enough work to finish the project.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection also restored permits for the project.

A new spending bill aimed at addressing the cost increase is now being considered by Massachusetts lawmakers. The original contract called for the project to be funded entirely by Massachusetts ratepayers.

Lauren Digging from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources said she was thankful to the house for including language needed to jumpstart the project saying in a statement,

“Completion of the NECEC line is important for Massachusetts customers. This project will help stabilize our electric rates, provide clean, reliable winter energy supply, and reduce the state’s emissions," Digging said.

The bill would still have to be approved by the Massachusetts Senate and signed by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey before becoming law.

A Hydro-Quebec spokesperson said work has resumed at an electrical converter site and that crews are being mobilized for transmission line work on the Canadian side of the border.