After nearly a decade of legal challenges and delays, the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line is expected to start delivering Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts this week. The 145-mile project will carry up to 1.2 gigawatts of carbon-free electricity from Hydro-Québec, connecting the Canadian grid to the New England energy network.

The line, developed by Avangrid, is projected to save Massachusetts residential customers approximately $18–$20 annually and advance the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Phelps Turner, director of clean grid for the Conservation Law Foundation, called the project “a significant moment for clean energy in New England.”

Originally proposed in 2016, the project faced multiple hurdles, including legal opposition, a 2021 Maine referendum attempting to block the line, and increased costs due to delays. The final agreement in 2025 addressed cost-sharing between utilities, developers, and regulators, adding roughly $521 million to project expenses while still ensuring consumer savings.

Hydro-Québec has been testing equipment along the route and is coordinating with U.S. teams to begin commercial operations, slated for January 16. However, questions remain about the net increase of clean energy entering the region, as some power may be redirected from existing transmission lines, according to Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association.

The NECEC project represents a rare example of large-scale transmission successfully built in the U.S., highlighting the challenges of balancing decarbonization goals with environmental and legal concerns.

Source: canarymedia.com