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
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.
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
Mainers Call for Fairness in Army Corps Review of CMP Corridor
NRCM news release December, 5 2019 (Lewiston, ME) — People from across Maine gathered in Lewiston to express their growing concern over the proposed Central Maine Power (CMP) corridor through Western Maine and call on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a rigorous environmental review for the controversial transmission line, as was done Read More
Congressman Golden Calls for a Public Hearing on the Army Corps Review of CMP Transmission Corridor
NRCM News Release October 16, 2019 (Augusta, ME)—As Central Maine Power’s (CMP) controversial transmission corridor proposal continues to face delays and growing public opposition, Congressman Jared Golden issued a strong letter of concern this morning to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The letter highlights the Army Corps’ lack of transparency in its permitting process Read More
Six More Maine Towns and Two Major Unions Vote Overwhelmingly to Oppose CMP Corridor
20 Towns Have Voted to Oppose or Rescind Support NRCM News Release (Augusta, ME) – Six more towns in western Maine have all voted in the past two weeks to overwhelmingly oppose the Central Maine Power (CMP) corridor project. The United Steelworker’s Maine Labor Council and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local S6, Read More
U.S. EPA Says CMP’s Permit Application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is Incomplete
Also Says CMP Permit Application Does Not Examine Less-damaging Alternatives, Such as Burial Along Existing Roads NRCM news release May 3, 2019 (Augusta, ME)—As Central Maine Power’s (CMP) controversial transmission line proposal continues to face growing scrutiny and opposition from Maine people and towns, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just issued a strongly Read More
Comments about CMP Corridor Submitted to Army Corps of Engineers
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) , and Trout Unlimited (TU) submitted these public comments to the Army Corps of Engineers on April 25, 2019, regarding Central Maine Power’s proposed “New England Clean Energy Connect” (NECEC) transmission line. Full comments Appendix: A.i. AMC, NRCM, and TU direct testimony combined A.ii. Read More
