Us Court Ruling Overturns Block Of Hydro Quebec Power Plan In Maine

Maine’s highest court has sided with Hydro-Québec and its commercial partner, Avangrid Inc., in a high-profile dispute over a new transmission line that would carry Canadian hydropower to New England, giving the ambitions a new lease of life. of the utility to supply the U.S. Northeastern. In a long-awaited ruling released Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a referendum held last year in which voters rejected Hydro-Québec’s proposed $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect project. The court agreed with the project’s supporters, who argued that the referendum violated their constitutional rights by overriding the regulatory approvals the line had already received. The case will now go to the lower court for further consideration. “The project remains part of Hydro-Québec’s long-term vision as the company is committed to supporting the transition to a clean energy future,” the provincial government-owned utility said in a statement. He said he is reviewing the court’s decision so he can determine next steps and assess the potential impact on the line’s construction schedule. The decision provides some vindication for Hydro-Québec and Avangrid. The partners said the project enjoys broad support among political and business leaders and has received all required permits. Although the victory revives a project that was in danger of dying and boosts Hydro-Québec’s bid to become a major supplier of clean energy in the US, the company still faces many hurdles to completing the transmission line. A related case is still before the Maine Supreme Court. It concerns the power of a state lease that allows the line to cross one mile of public land. Quebec is looking beyond hydropower as its latest planned major project nears completion Hydro-Québec has been trying for years to find a way to bring its power to Massachusetts, after the state awarded the state-owned utility a contract in 2018 to supply 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity a year — enough to power 1.2 millions of households. The 20-year supply agreement has an estimated $10 billion in revenue for Hydro, making it one of the utility’s largest deals. Clean Energy Connect is the latest proposal to fulfill this contract. When completed, the line will be a 233-kilometer high-voltage transmission line that stretches from the Canadian border through western Maine to its final destination in Massachusetts. Most of the line will be built along existing power corridors. The play was deeply divisive. Proponents and opponents have fought pitched battles, and the energy companies involved have spent nearly $100 million collectively in efforts to win public support, trade publication Utility Dive reported. The Maine Natural Resources Council, a leading environmental advocacy organization in the state, has warned that the power line will cut a “permanent drop in Maine’s western mountains, forever damaging a globally significant area that supports a vibrant outdoor recreation economy.” . Other environmental groups have voiced support for the project, saying it would achieve a higher good: that of replacing fossil fuels, such as natural gas, with cleaner energy. The referendum was held in November after critics of the project collected thousands of signatures. A majority of voters voted to ban construction of the line. Hydro-Québec and Avangrid have suspended work on the project until legal challenges are resolved, at the request of Maine’s governor. Hydro-Québec CEO Sophie Brochu is trying to boost Quebec’s electricity exports to nearby U.S. states by entering into multi-year supply agreements that she said would have environmental benefits. In a separate deal, the utility was selected last year for a multibillion-dollar contract to deliver renewable energy to the heart of New York. But Ms. Brochu’s effort faces significant resistance — particularly in Maine and not just from environmentalists. Hydro-Québec has also been targeted by established US oil and gas players. Ms. Brochu blamed rival energy companies, especially Houston-based natural gas power producer Calpine Corp., for relentlessly trying to block the project and piracy, which she has acknowledged are legitimate concerns of local residents in base level. Calpine has manufacturing facilities in several states, including a natural gas plant in Westbrook, Me., that supplies the region. Your time is valuable. Deliver the Top Business Headlines newsletter to your inbox morning or night. Sign up today.

title: “Us Court Ruling Overturns Block Of Hydro Quebec Power Plan In Maine Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Joyce Pitts”

Maine’s highest court has sided with Hydro-Québec and its commercial partner, Avangrid Inc., in a high-profile dispute over a new transmission line that would carry Canadian hydropower to New England, giving the ambitions a new lease of life. of the utility to supply the U.S. Northeastern. In a long-awaited ruling released Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a referendum held last year in which voters rejected Hydro-Québec’s proposed $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect project. The court agreed with the project’s supporters, who argued that the referendum violated their constitutional rights by overriding the regulatory approvals the line had already received. The case will now go to the lower court for further consideration. “The project remains part of Hydro-Québec’s long-term vision as the company is committed to supporting the transition to a clean energy future,” the provincial government-owned utility said in a statement. He said he is reviewing the court’s decision so he can determine next steps and assess the potential impact on the line’s construction schedule. The decision provides some vindication for Hydro-Québec and Avangrid. The partners said the project enjoys broad support among political and business leaders and has received all required permits. Although the victory revives a project that was in danger of dying and boosts Hydro-Québec’s bid to become a major supplier of clean energy in the US, the company still faces many hurdles to completing the transmission line. A related case is still before the Maine Supreme Court. It concerns the power of a state lease that allows the line to cross one mile of public land. Quebec is looking beyond hydropower as its latest planned major project nears completion Hydro-Québec has been trying for years to find a way to bring its power to Massachusetts, after the state awarded the state-owned utility a contract in 2018 to supply 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity a year — enough to power 1.2 millions of households. The 20-year supply agreement has an estimated $10 billion in revenue for Hydro, making it one of the utility’s largest deals. Clean Energy Connect is the latest proposal to fulfill this contract. When completed, the line will be a 233-kilometer high-voltage transmission line that stretches from the Canadian border through western Maine to its final destination in Massachusetts. Most of the line will be built along existing power corridors. The play was deeply divisive. Proponents and opponents have fought pitched battles, and the energy companies involved have spent nearly $100 million collectively in efforts to win public support, trade publication Utility Dive reported. The Maine Natural Resources Council, a leading environmental advocacy organization in the state, has warned that the power line will cut a “permanent drop in Maine’s western mountains, forever damaging a globally significant area that supports a vibrant outdoor recreation economy.” . Other environmental groups have voiced support for the project, saying it would achieve a higher good: that of replacing fossil fuels, such as natural gas, with cleaner energy. The referendum was held in November after critics of the project collected thousands of signatures. A majority of voters voted to ban construction of the line. Hydro-Québec and Avangrid have suspended work on the project until legal challenges are resolved, at the request of Maine’s governor. Hydro-Québec CEO Sophie Brochu is trying to boost Quebec’s electricity exports to nearby U.S. states by entering into multi-year supply agreements that she said would have environmental benefits. In a separate deal, the utility was selected last year for a multibillion-dollar contract to deliver renewable energy to the heart of New York. But Ms. Brochu’s effort faces significant resistance — particularly in Maine and not just from environmentalists. Hydro-Québec has also been targeted by established US oil and gas players. Ms. Brochu blamed rival energy companies, especially Houston-based natural gas power producer Calpine Corp., for relentlessly trying to block the project and piracy, which she has acknowledged are legitimate concerns of local residents in base level. Calpine has manufacturing facilities in several states, including a natural gas plant in Westbrook, Me., that supplies the region. Your time is valuable. Deliver the Top Business Headlines newsletter to your inbox morning or night. Sign up today.

title: “Us Court Ruling Overturns Block Of Hydro Quebec Power Plan In Maine Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-05” author: “Maria Spiegel”

Maine’s highest court has sided with Hydro-Québec and its commercial partner, Avangrid Inc., in a high-profile dispute over a new transmission line that would carry Canadian hydropower to New England, giving the ambitions a new lease of life. of the utility to supply the U.S. Northeastern. In a long-awaited ruling released Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a referendum held last year in which voters rejected Hydro-Québec’s proposed $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect project. The court agreed with the project’s supporters, who argued that the referendum violated their constitutional rights by overriding the regulatory approvals the line had already received. The case will now go to the lower court for further consideration. “The project remains part of Hydro-Québec’s long-term vision as the company is committed to supporting the transition to a clean energy future,” the provincial government-owned utility said in a statement. He said he is reviewing the court’s decision so he can determine next steps and assess the potential impact on the line’s construction schedule. The decision provides some vindication for Hydro-Québec and Avangrid. The partners said the project enjoys broad support among political and business leaders and has received all required permits. Although the victory revives a project that was in danger of dying and boosts Hydro-Québec’s bid to become a major supplier of clean energy in the US, the company still faces many hurdles to completing the transmission line. A related case is still before the Maine Supreme Court. It concerns the power of a state lease that allows the line to cross one mile of public land. Quebec is looking beyond hydropower as its latest planned major project nears completion Hydro-Québec has been trying for years to find a way to bring its power to Massachusetts, after the state awarded the state-owned utility a contract in 2018 to supply 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity a year — enough to power 1.2 millions of households. The 20-year supply agreement has an estimated $10 billion in revenue for Hydro, making it one of the utility’s largest deals. Clean Energy Connect is the latest proposal to fulfill this contract. When completed, the line will be a 233-kilometer high-voltage transmission line that stretches from the Canadian border through western Maine to its final destination in Massachusetts. Most of the line will be built along existing power corridors. The play was deeply divisive. Proponents and opponents have fought pitched battles, and the energy companies involved have spent nearly $100 million collectively in efforts to win public support, trade publication Utility Dive reported. The Maine Natural Resources Council, a leading environmental advocacy organization in the state, has warned that the power line will cut a “permanent drop in Maine’s western mountains, forever damaging a globally significant area that supports a vibrant outdoor recreation economy.” . Other environmental groups have voiced support for the project, saying it would achieve a higher good: that of replacing fossil fuels, such as natural gas, with cleaner energy. The referendum was held in November after critics of the project collected thousands of signatures. A majority of voters voted to ban construction of the line. Hydro-Québec and Avangrid have suspended work on the project until legal challenges are resolved, at the request of Maine’s governor. Hydro-Québec CEO Sophie Brochu is trying to boost Quebec’s electricity exports to nearby U.S. states by entering into multi-year supply agreements that she said would have environmental benefits. In a separate deal, the utility was selected last year for a multibillion-dollar contract to deliver renewable energy to the heart of New York. But Ms. Brochu’s effort faces significant resistance — particularly in Maine and not just from environmentalists. Hydro-Québec has also been targeted by established US oil and gas players. Ms. Brochu blamed rival energy companies, especially Houston-based natural gas power producer Calpine Corp., for relentlessly trying to block the project and piracy, which she has acknowledged are legitimate concerns of local residents in base level. Calpine has manufacturing facilities in several states, including a natural gas plant in Westbrook, Me., that supplies the region. Your time is valuable. Deliver the Top Business Headlines newsletter to your inbox morning or night. Sign up today.

title: “Us Court Ruling Overturns Block Of Hydro Quebec Power Plan In Maine Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-03” author: “Pearlie Byrd”

Maine’s highest court has sided with Hydro-Québec and its commercial partner, Avangrid Inc., in a high-profile dispute over a new transmission line that would carry Canadian hydropower to New England, giving the ambitions a new lease of life. of the utility to supply the U.S. Northeastern. In a long-awaited ruling released Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a referendum held last year in which voters rejected Hydro-Québec’s proposed $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect project. The court agreed with the project’s supporters, who argued that the referendum violated their constitutional rights by overriding the regulatory approvals the line had already received. The case will now go to the lower court for further consideration. “The project remains part of Hydro-Québec’s long-term vision as the company is committed to supporting the transition to a clean energy future,” the provincial government-owned utility said in a statement. He said he is reviewing the court’s decision so he can determine next steps and assess the potential impact on the line’s construction schedule. The decision provides some vindication for Hydro-Québec and Avangrid. The partners said the project enjoys broad support among political and business leaders and has received all required permits. Although the victory revives a project that was in danger of dying and boosts Hydro-Québec’s bid to become a major supplier of clean energy in the US, the company still faces many hurdles to completing the transmission line. A related case is still before the Maine Supreme Court. It concerns the power of a state lease that allows the line to cross one mile of public land. Quebec is looking beyond hydropower as its latest planned major project nears completion Hydro-Québec has been trying for years to find a way to bring its power to Massachusetts, after the state awarded the state-owned utility a contract in 2018 to supply 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity a year — enough to power 1.2 millions of households. The 20-year supply agreement has an estimated $10 billion in revenue for Hydro, making it one of the utility’s largest deals. Clean Energy Connect is the latest proposal to fulfill this contract. When completed, the line will be a 233-kilometer high-voltage transmission line that stretches from the Canadian border through western Maine to its final destination in Massachusetts. Most of the line will be built along existing power corridors. The play was deeply divisive. Proponents and opponents have fought pitched battles, and the energy companies involved have spent nearly $100 million collectively in efforts to win public support, trade publication Utility Dive reported. The Maine Natural Resources Council, a leading environmental advocacy organization in the state, has warned that the power line will cut a “permanent drop in Maine’s western mountains, forever damaging a globally significant area that supports a vibrant outdoor recreation economy.” . Other environmental groups have voiced support for the project, saying it would achieve a higher good: that of replacing fossil fuels, such as natural gas, with cleaner energy. The referendum was held in November after critics of the project collected thousands of signatures. A majority of voters voted to ban construction of the line. Hydro-Québec and Avangrid have suspended work on the project until legal challenges are resolved, at the request of Maine’s governor. Hydro-Québec CEO Sophie Brochu is trying to boost Quebec’s electricity exports to nearby U.S. states by entering into multi-year supply agreements that she said would have environmental benefits. In a separate deal, the utility was selected last year for a multibillion-dollar contract to deliver renewable energy to the heart of New York. But Ms. Brochu’s effort faces significant resistance — particularly in Maine and not just from environmentalists. Hydro-Québec has also been targeted by established US oil and gas players. Ms. Brochu blamed rival energy companies, especially Houston-based natural gas power producer Calpine Corp., for relentlessly trying to block the project and piracy, which she has acknowledged are legitimate concerns of local residents in base level. Calpine has manufacturing facilities in several states, including a natural gas plant in Westbrook, Me., that supplies the region. Your time is valuable. Deliver the Top Business Headlines newsletter to your inbox morning or night. Sign up today.