CANADA – The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has authorised the construction and operation of the Hydro-Québec’s Appalaches–Maine Interconnection line.

With the CER authorisation, the project has all the permits needed for construction, from Saint–Adrien–d’Irlande in Québec to the City of Lewiston in Maine, and it is planned to be linked to the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) line, whose construction started in Maine in February 2021.

For the 320-kV direct current line, the route chosen in Québec extends 60 miles between Appalaches substation in Sain Adrien – d’Irlande and a connection point in the municipality of Frontenac in Estrie on the Québec – Maine border. In Maine, the length of the transmission line will be 145 miles.

The project also includes the installation of a converter at Appalaches substation, which will convert alternating current to direct current to supply the new interconnection.

The new Appalaches – Maine – NECEC line is expected to supply 1.2 GW of Québec hydroelectricity to New England. It will deliver 9.45 TWh of clean Québec hydropower to Massachusetts. Furthermore, Maine is anticipated to receive 0.5 TWh per annum, for 20 years, through an agreement signed last summer.

Recently, Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers have proposed to deliver up to 1.25 GW of renewable power to New York City through the new Champlain Hudson Power Express project.

The proposed 340 miles long transmission line is expected to bring clean power sourced from Upstate New York and from Canada.

Source: NS Energy