Central Maine Power’s (CMP) proposed transmission corridor through Western Maine is a bad deal for the North Woods, it’s a bad deal for our climate, and it’s a bad deal for our clean energy future. We want to tell you why. CMP and Hydro-Quebec (HQ) are mounting an aggressive and expensive political campaign using terms Read More
CMP Transmission Line Proposal: A Bad Deal for Maine
Central Maine Power (CMP) is proposing to build a 145-mile, high-voltage, direct current transmission line from the Quebec-Maine border to an interconnection with the existing New England grid in Lewiston. About 53 miles of the CMP transmission line route would create a brand new transmission corridor; requiring clearing of a large, currently undisturbed, swath of Maine’s North Woods.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes the CMP corridor because it would harm Maine forests and wildlife, suppress Maine's renewable energy industry, and could actually increase climate change emissions, all without any clear benefit to Maine or Massachusetts.
Under its proposal, CMP would expand the other 92 miles of transmission line, requiring clearing more vegetation and undertaking additional development within existing corridors. The proposed CMP transmission line includes above-ground transmission lines across the Kennebec River Gorge, the Appalachian Trail, 263 wetlands, 115 streams, 12 inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat areas, and near Beattie Pond, a Class 6 remote pond.
CMP & Hydro-Quebec Have Spent Record-breaking $16.78M on Campaign for the CMP Corridor
Spending hits $61,915 per day over the past 271 days NRCM news release July 7, 2020 (Augusta, ME) — Central Maine Power (CMP) has now spent $10.53 million and Hydro-Quebec $6.24 million on an unprecedented campaign to salvage their controversial 145-mile transmission line proposal that would deliver electricity from Quebec to Massachusetts by cutting through Read More
Citing Irreparable Harm to Maine’s Environment, NRCM Appeals DEP Permit for CMP Corridor
News release June 10, 2020 (Augusta, ME) – Maine’s leading environmental advocacy group, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), today filed an appeal of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) permit for Central Maine Power’s (CMP) controversial transmission corridor. NRCM called the permit fundamentally flawed and contrary to the interests of Maine people because the Read More
NRCM Statement on DEP Permit for Controversial CMP Corridor Proposal
News release May 11, 2020 (Augusta, ME) – The Natural Resources Council of Maine today issued the following statement from Clean Energy Staff Attorney Sue Ely in response to the decision by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to issue a final permit for the controversial Central Maine Power (CMP) transmission line: “Today’s DEP permit Read More
CMP and Hydro-Quebec Have Spent an Astounding $9 Million on Desperate Campaign to Save CMP Corridor
Latest ethics filing shows CMP spent $5M in first 3 months of 2020 NRCM news release April 13, 2020 (Augusta, ME) — Central Maine Power (CMP) spent $5.045 million in the first three months of 2020 and a total of $7.23 million since October 2019 on its desperate campaign to protect massive future profits from Read More
Leading Maine Conservation Groups Criticize DEP’s Draft Permit on Controversial CMP Corridor
News release from NRCM, TU, and AMC March 13, 2020 (Augusta, ME) – The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today issued a draft permit for the controversial Central Maine Power (CMP) transmission line. Although the draft decision imposes several significant conditions, DEP’s announcement drew strong criticism from three conservation groups that intervened in both Read More
In Support of LD 2136, An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation By Foreign Nationals To Influence Referenda
Senator Luchini, Representative Schneck, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. My name is Pete Didisheim. I am the Advocacy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I appreciate this opportunity to testify on behalf of our more than 26,000 members and supporters in support of LD 2136, Read More
CMP Spends a Staggering $2.3M in 3 Months on Campaign to Boost Controversial Corridor
Spending comes as utility seeks rate increase that would cost Mainers $46.5 million NRCM news release Augusta, ME (January 16, 2020) A newly released campaign report filed late yesterday reveals that Central Maine Power (CMP) funneled an astounding $2.3 million to its Political Action Committee (PAC) during the last three months of 2019 in an Read More
LUPC Decision on CMP Corridor Ignores Harm Done to Maine
NRCM news release January 8, 2020 (Orono, ME) – Maine’s leading environmental advocacy group, the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), issued the following statement from Clean Energy Staff Attorney Sue Ely regarding the decision today by the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) to certify to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that Central Read More
