NECEC Transmission Line to Start Commercial Operations in Maine
The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line will commence commercial operations on Friday, linking a Quebec hydropower facility to Lewiston, Maine, and delivering 1,200 megawatts of renewable electricity to the New England grid. Despite facing opposition and a rejected referendum in 2021, Avangrid has moved forward, with the project expected to lower energy costs by up to $44 million in Maine and $150 million in Massachusetts. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has also mandated conservation measures to address environmental concerns.
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The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line will begin commercial operations on Friday. The 145-mile line connects a hydropower facility in Quebec, Canada, to Lewiston, Maine, injecting 1,200 megawatts of renewable electricity into the New England grid.
Avangrid, the project's parent company, reported that the line has been carrying small quantities of electricity during testing. Despite facing opposition and a 2021 referendum where voters rejected the project, Avangrid argued the referendum was unconstitutional, which the court upheld.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection mandated conservation of 50,000 acres to address environmental concerns. The line is projected to reduce energy costs by $14 to $44 million in Maine and about $150 million in Massachusetts.
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