[Update 7:59 a.m.] As Hydro-Quebec will not be sending a representative, they will be replaced by Tony Buxton of the Industrial Energy Consumers Group.
JAY – A public forum will be held this Thursday to discuss the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project, in advance of next week’s special town meeting.
The forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 20 at the Spruce Mountain Middle School cafeteria. The special town meeting will be held on Monday, June 24, also at 6 p.m. and also at SMMS.
The Board of Selectpersons voted to hold the special town meeting in May after accepting a petition signed by 217 residents. This reversed an earlier decision to not accept the petition, which sought to trigger a meeting to allow voters to determine the town’s stance toward Central Maine Power’s NECEC project.
Previously, the board supported the project, as did a number of boards in local area towns. Town meeting votes have seen that support erode in Franklin County, with Farmington and Wilton changing previously-issued declarations of support to expressions of opposition.
Monday’s meeting features two questions after electing a moderator; Ronald Aseltine has agreed to serve in that capacity if nominated. Article 2 would see if the town will oppose the transmission line project. Article 3 would authorize the board to submit letters of opposition to CMP, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, assuming Article 2 were to pass. The selectpersons already voted to conduct the meeting via secret ballot.
The forum is being organized by Rep. Tina Riley, who said that while the informational event is designed to support Monday’s special town meeting, the forum has been organized separately from the town government and selectpersons. Riley said that she intended to invite six panelists, including representatives of CMP and Hydro-Quebec – the company that would provide the power transported via the NECEC line – as well as an unaffiliated supporter. The panel will also include three people opposed to the project, including Susan Theberge, the resident that organized the petition. The panelists will provide brief statements followed by a question-answer period.
The forum is open to all members of the public. Only Jay residents will be allowed to cast ballots at Monday’s vote.
Since the time of the publishing of this article, Representative Tina Riley was informed that Hydro-Quebec’s representative has backed out of speaking at this forum. This would have been the first time a representative from Hydro-Quebec has spoken in a Maine public forum on this matter. Hydro-Quebec has been criticized by not participating or responding to information requests by state approval agencies reviewing the CMP corridor project. In Canada, HQ has been accused of constructing mega dams causing cultural genocide of Northern Manitoba Indigenous communities. The mega dams also elevate the methylmercury levels in the water, which are poisoning communities downstream in Muskrat Falls, Labrador.
Mainers want to know what HQ is hiding…
Unfortunately, Hydro Quebec has backed out of the meeting in Jay. Just as they have been absent from any discussion with any town, the DEP, the PUC, LUPC or anyone else. While they stand to make around 40 million per MONTH on this elective for profit merchant line, they do not want the truth to come out about how dirty their power is. I am sure their legal team has advised them, again, not to go on the record about anything.
Trees sequester carbon- CO2 in, O2 out. Per the EPA mature forests sequester 30,000 pounds of CO2 per acre and emit 22,000 pounds of oxygen.EPA calculation: 100 acres of mature forest would offset about 250 cars per year. How many acres has Hydro Quebec flooded? Acres that are emitting methane as organic matter decomposes, and is methalyzing mercury as it is released from plants? How many indigenous peoples have been forced from their homes? How has disrupting the natural flow of waters impacted the Gulf of Maine?
These are questions Hydro-Quebec’s lawyers do not want them to go on the record with- thus their lack of presence is completely as predictable as the half truths that CMP will be emitting at tomorrow’s meeting.
Thank goodness, despite all the wonderful CMP propaganda about “dark money” and “pro-pollution”, the people are not buying it this time.
Follow the money, it takes a sharp turn from the truth and heads to Quebec and Spain.And sadly, to the Blaine House (so far).
Isn’t it frustrating to see these town meetings and citizen get-togethers, where we all voice our opinions only to be soundly ignored? At this point many citizens have spoken against the NECEC (and yes, some have spoken out for it, as well), but it isn’t looking like the opinions of the towns or the populace will be taken into consideration. Yet we keep meeting and speaking up for ourselves, as if taxpayers in small towns way out here in Western Maine were of any importance at all to the decision makers.
Sounds like we should hold another election long before the guvnas first term is even up. Not only is she ignoring her constituents on this corridor she has gone ahead and forced sanctuary status on the whole state. The list goes on.
Waaaaahhhhh!!! Summer has come but still, so many snowflakes.
HrtlssBstrd,
Very classy.
As expected.
Rain today but no snow in the forecast..
No Corridor.
Frustrating,
Even after the Governor’s vetoes we’re still in it for the long haul.
Awww, add educators and union to the current list…
Hrtlss, oh, never mind….