POWER TIES

If a new power line needs to be built connecting Maine to eastern Canada – and the governing body of New England’s power grid says it does – the new route chosen by Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. is a good one.

Recently, Bangor Hydro announced plans to build a new $90 million electricity transmission line across portions of Hancock, Washington and Penobscot counties to connect the New England and Canadian power grids. The 85-mile route would parallel existing industrial development most of the way. For most of the route it would run along the Stud Mill Road, a private logging road owned by International Paper. Much of the road is already bordered by the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, which carries natural gas from Canada to Maine.

Currently, just one power line connects New England to Canada. Another line is needed to increase reliability and to allow more power to flow to and from Canada and the project already has been supported by ISO New England, the region’s electricity grid administrators. Currently, power producers in Maine often cannot ship electricity to Canada because the existing line is already fully loaded. The new line could increase the demand for clean power produced in Maine. The connection to New Brunswick is a good fit because power demand there peaks in the winter, while the New England peak is in the summer.

When Bangor Hydro first proposed this line more than a decade ago, it was meant to allow more power from Canada to enter the United States. Now, due to concerns that two power plants in New Brunswick, one nuclear and one oil-fired, may have to be shut down, perhaps permanently, the intent is to transmit power from Maine and New England to the Canadian maritime provinces. It is unclear how this will impact Maine rate-payers, a concern that must be addressed by the Public Utilities Commission, which will rule on the need for the new line.

ISO New England agreed this summer to distribute the cost of building the new line among its 6.5 million customers in the region. Maine would be responsible for 8 percent of the cost and power costs would increase about $1 a year for customers of Bangor Hydro and Central Maine Power Co., which are members of the regional group. That increase could be eliminated by future cost savings, according to Bangor Hydro officials.

The PUC must be satisfied that there will be benefits for Maine power consumers before it approves the project.

As for the route, Bangor Hydro initially proposed to build the line through largely undeveloped forest north of the current proposed location. The landowner, International Paper, suggested part way through review of the project by the Board of Environmental Protection that the power line parallel the Stud Mill Road. Bangor Hydro disputed this route and the project was ultimately rejected by the BEP. Putting the power line next to the road and pipeline, as has been done in other states, makes much more sense that building in undeveloped forestland.

If this project will benefit Maine, it is going in the right place.