Maine Picks Clearway, Avangrid for 800 MW Wind and Grid Project
Maine regulators have selected Clearway Energy Group to develop an 800 MW wind project in northern Maine and Avangrid to build a new high-voltage transmission line connecting the generation to the New England grid.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission selected the companies on Aug. 25. The project is expected to become Maine’s largest wind development and could provide 600 MW of power to Maine, with the remainder available to other New England states.The transmission line would also connect Aroostook County more directly to the regional grid, helping unlock additional renewable generation in the area.
Phil Bartlett, chair of the commission, said: “These transmission and generation projects will bring substantial economic benefits to the state, creating thousands of full-time jobs during construction and $2.4 billion in economic output.”
Patrick Scully, a PUC commissioner, highlighted existing transmission constraints in northern Maine, citing “the significant congestion on existing transmission infrastructure.”
The project will require engineering, environmental review and permitting before construction can begin. The new generation is also contingent on development of the transmission line.
Source: mainepublic.org
