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Locals regarding NECEC: “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”

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Darryl Wood (right) voices his opposition to the NECEC to the Farmington Selectboard.

FARMINGTON – A group of nearly 30 people filled the room and spilled into the hallway of the Town Office last night to voice their concerns over the proposed New England Clean Energy Connect project.

The NECEC project, one of 46 proposals submitted in request by Massachusetts to bring up to 9.45 terawatts of clean energy power into the state, was selected by that state earlier this year. Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., has proposed running a direct current transmission line through western Maine to connect the Quebec electric grid with a substation in Lewiston. The project is designed to bring 1,200 megawatts of power from a Canadian hydroelectric company, Hydro-Québec, to the New England grid.

In Franklin County, the project would create 12 miles of new corridor on the Canadian border, running through the northern townships of Beattie, Lowelltown and Skinner. It would then go into Somerset County, reentering Franklin County in Industry. The project would impact 20.6 miles of existing transmission corridor in the towns of Industry, New Sharon, Farmington, Wilton, Chesterville and Jay, before traveling south into Livermore Falls.

The crowd at Tuesday night’s meeting was primarily opposed to the project, organized, in part, by a Facebook initiative lead by Darryl Wood of New Sharon. Wood is the director of a local business that brings in $7 million to the economy every year, according to a statement he provided to the board.

“In my opinion, if you are going to alter the view shed and environment of Franklin and Somerset counties on a monstrous scale, it should be done with great confidence of the short-term benefits and especially the long-range visioning for the region. This project falls short in both regards…,” Wood said.

CMP officials say that the project will create 1,700 positions, mostly over the course of the construction project, will result in $18 million in tax revenue increases for Maine communities and will lower energy costs by roughly $40 to $45 million as compared to the cost of the regional supply without the project.

At a Jay selectboard meeting in November, CMP representative John Carroll said the project would represent a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. He highlighted a release of the federal climate assessment, which predicted significant climate change-related issues affecting the United States. Carroll said that the NECEC project would result in a real reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, going online just as a number of New England plants were being retired.

“The conversation that this is a green project is flawed. Hundreds of acres of clear cut land will need to be kept clear with harsh chemicals,” Wood said.

Others agreed, noting the number of animal species that would be affected by the proposed 150-foot wide corridor. In Franklin County, a total of 21.4 acres of forested wetland would become scrub-shrub wetland, basically eliminating trees above 10 feet in height. Roughly 600 square feet of wetlands would be filled for poles.

“Wildlife needs a certain quantity of space without interruption in order to exist. The more you interrupt this continuous space, the more you interrupt the song birds, the deer, the moose…,” Farmington Conservation Commission representative Sally Speich said.

Opposition to the project began snowballing last summer when former Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, brought additional information to local selectboards, including that two other similar projects were proposed in Vermont and New Hampshire by two different companies and each were offered $200 and $300 million in economic development funds. Towns of Franklin County originally supported the project, but most are reconsidering their support since the new information has been presented, and after seeing the considerable opposition from the townspeople. Saviello, along with a small group of other residents, have presented information to selectboards across the county as well as the Franklin County commissioners.

“I find it perplexing and irritating that shortly after it was found out that they had made concessions to Vermont and New Hampshire, suddenly you were all here saying we want that money too. Had all of a sudden that money arrived, we wouldn’t be here having this conversation. I’m listening. CMP is coming and I have a few questions and I’ll be real curious to see what they say,” Selectman Michael Fogg said.

Wood reported that more than 100 local residents have signed a petition against the project, urging the Farmington selectboard to officially rescind their support.

“We choose to live in Maine; we put up with the cold weather, the rusted vehicles, the few jobs, because we don’t want that crap over our heads. We will lose every single day that these things are built. They can never be taken back,” resident Drake Daniels said.

“I was state senator when Kirby pushed forward, and I supported that. But look what’s happened. It’s just more and more and more,” former Sen. Walter Gooley, R-Farmington, said. “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”

CMP will join the selectboard on Feb. 12 to field additional questions. Town Manager Richard Davis said they will attempt to find a bigger room to accommodate the expected crowd.

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34 Comments

  1. Mr.Wood,Ms.Speich, Mr. Daniels and Mr. Gooley were spot on in their statements.It,s a BAD DEAL.

  2. I and my extended family and friends have enjoyed that portion of Franklin County from Rt. 27 north of Eustis through to Rt. 201 above Jackman most of my adult life. Born and raised in Farmington, going to that region before that area even had a road through it to go fishing, hunting and camping was the highlight of the spring, summer and fall. Then in the late 50s the Boudreau lumber co.built a road beside Gold brook on Rt. 27 through to Holeb. when that happened, it changed and devistated a pristine part of northern Franklin and Somerset counties forever. It altered the habitat of many dozens of birds, animals and fish throughout the region with dozens of side roads. A few years ago the Kibby mountain wind farm was allowed to be built, it further damaged the area and where does that power go, I don’t think it benefits the people of our State. Now C.M.P. wants to destroy the rest of that area and to what end, the power goes to Massachusetts not to Maine. I am 80 years old and a lifelong resident of Maine and i’m tired of seeing the people of this state getting screwed by big business from outside of Maine with no benefit to the people of this great State of Maine.
    I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY TELL YOU, THIS IS BAD FOR THE STATE OF MAINE !!!!!

    Evan A. Churchill

  3. In response to selectman Foggs comment ” “I find it perplexing and irritating that shortly after it was found out that they had made concessions to Vermont and New Hampshire, suddenly you were all here saying we want that money too. Had all of a sudden that money arrived, we wouldn’t be here having this conversation. I’m listening. CMP is coming and I have a few questions and I’ll be real curious to see what they say,” Selectman Michael Fogg said.”

    I do not believe the good townspeople in attendance last night feel that way at all. I don’t. It was only when the facts came and details came out and good old fashioned Yankee common sense emerged that the opposition formed to this flawed process grew stronger.

    You can be 100% sure of what CMP, and their polished rhetoric and paid professional spokespeople will say when they come back. The question is: do you believe them? Or do you trust the guts and instincts and RESEARCH of the good people of Farmington, Franklin and Somerset County who actually care about the region and our future.

    100% of the people who spoke last night spoke against the project. 100%

  4. I live where the corridor will abut my property. The visual and habitat impact will be significant. As I understand, Maine will not be getting power from this transmission line. As with many expansions, companies bring in workers from elsewhere. So I wonder how many local people would be employed. Of course, most of those jobs would be temporary.
    If there is a malfunction resulting in fire, how much land/structures would be destroyed? How would emergency vehicles get to the fire. ( thinking of California)
    I feel my property valuation will decrease due to this huge transmission line, but I am sure my taxes will continue to increase. Who would want to buy my property with a huge transmission line abutting it?
    I agree, that this is not the best for Maine, its land and its residents.

  5. I was contacted by someone doing a survey that said CMP can push this through with some loophole even if citizens of involved towns try to stop them.

  6. To Mr Fog,
    If you’re so perplexed and irritated perhaps you should step aside from doing the people’s business.
    Things happen Dynamically. As new info is learned, new thoughts and questions naturally arise. This is normal so if this process bothers you,,,,,,

    And you’ll be “curious” about what CMP has to say…. They send professional public relations people whose ONLY purpose is to coerce us for their own benefit. They are going to say “this is a great deal for you”. Are you going to accept that even when the tide has clearly turned on this project, or are you going to support the irritating people you represent?

    You got the people’s message wrong. They weren’t saying “give us money and we like it”…. They are saying “we don’t like it”. Period.
    Are you really listening?
    To Who?

    Listen to Mr Gooley.
    Listen to US.
    ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

  7. @ Wondering ….I’m curious as well considering he runs a ” nonprofit organization ” ….I’d love to hear the details .

    As for this entire project that want to bring to our town …NO! Go to some other state. Let Mass make their own electricity.

  8. Reading the article, and the comments, and I have to agree that this does not sound like a good deal for Maine. It appears we are not receiving any benefits and incurring some costs.
    The problem seems to be Massachusetts does not generate enough power for its own demand. So they would like to tap into a source of clean energy, where they are producing more than what their demands are. Only problem is, they have to go through us to get that power.
    So if Massachusetts can’t get their clean power from Canada, they may have to build their own power plant. And they may think what’s best for Massachusetts, just like we are thinking what’s best for Maine. And what might be best for them could be a coal burning power plant. They may think that even though its not very clean, most of that pollution will go north of their state, so it won’t be their problem.
    I believe this proposal needs to be looked at in broader terms than just what is good for Maine. I would love to see this country using less energy, but I don’t see that happening.

  9. @concerned you are on to something. Even if the people of the state don’t want this it most likely won’t matter. The PUC I believe has the last say and you can see how they work with cmp. The last time the puc “investigated” cmp they didn’t change anything to help the people being over charged and that is still going on according to the news. Not to mention the people that will be in favor of the extra “tax” dollars to be spent on useless crap.

  10. Stop this Mass Insanity now…or get a job picking up the dead birds and animals beneath the electric towers. Do not sell out the beautiful state of Maine to the ‘Destroyers of wilderness and wildlife. This is a road you cannot return from once paved…….Fight…Fight….Fight…

  11. Run it, the land has already been cut once within the last 10 years, it is not prime old growth virgin forest they are cutting, it’s called P R O G R E S S. Isn’t that what progressives want….?

  12. Virtually all the people I know who are against this project WOULD NOT change their mind for MONEY. They are against this period! If 30 people show up at a town meeting you can bet many times more people are also against it. NO TO NECEC!

  13. Drake Daniels is spot on, I couldn’t have said it better. Thank you Darryl for standing up and giving “us” a strong voice.

    You know that song…..

    “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”…..

  14. There are so many negative impacts to Maine if NECEC gets approved. This is an elective transmission upgrade, a for-profit project and does not meet a public need in Maine. It will not improve reliability for Maine’s rate payers. CMP has a history of over-stating benefits to towns, like with MPRP – towns of Dixmont, Detroit, Windsor only received a percentage of the promised tax benefit. Check out the Say NO to NECEC overview in the “Files” section of our Say NO to NECEC Facebook group, which shows how CMP is providing false claims with the NECEC proposal. If you are opposed to this project, save the dates of April 2 & 4th – there will be public witness hearings where you can make a formal statement to the DEP & LUPC, who are reviewing the site application. The meetings will be hosted at Maine-Farmington! Stay tuned for more details!

  15. No doubt some have ecological concerns about this project. Interested people can find a wealth of information in the following report:

    “Compensation Plan”
    New England Clean Energy Connect
    Prepared For :Maine Department of Environmental Protection and United States Army Corps of Engineers.

  16. Progress is a “relative term” depending on your GOAL.
    The only goal I see that would qualify this as progress are;
    Live in Massachusetts.
    Live in Quebec.
    LIve in Maine but work for CMP.
    Live in Spain, and work for CMP Parent Company.

    Bad deal for Maine.
    This one isn’t even close folks.

  17. @ confused, LEAP provides direct support to adults with developmental disabilities in the greater Farmington area. The vast majority of our budget is expensed to our 200 employees and dozen contractors who provide direct care services to adults with development disabilities in over 30 locations. The rest are capitol or business expenses such as insurances, utilities, accessible vehicles, homes and accessibility accommodations,
    The corridor does impact LEAP property but I am speaking as a private citizen.

  18. I would like to know how many of those against this project were also vocal against the wind projects in Carthage, Roxbury, Canton, etc. It seems like very few. Those of us who have, were and are saying all of the same things! There aren’t many permanent jobs, the power is for southern New England, they had to BLAST the tops of mountains and put in roads and concrete, the turbines are over 400 feet tall, the area needs to be kept clear of vegetation, there are wildlife concerns…sound familiar? Thus, I refuse to fight this thing. Lots of my own energy fighting something that is ultimately rubber stamped by the DEP, PUC, etc. The wind “farms” are much more of a blight on our landscape and no one cares.

  19. @Lisa, you are wrong if you think no one cares. My family and I care immensely and do everything we can to stand against wind. Don’t give up. What they have done to our mountaintops is disgusting…and now they have their sights on Whitecap in Rumford. It is a shame and we need to stand together to make sure our voices are heard!

  20. So Quebec Hydro builds a mega hydro project and then tries to get the power to a market. What a brilliant idea…Vermont and NH say no, and now it looks like Maine is the only way to get the power south. Seems like we are in the driver’s seat. Why don’t they do what they do in Europe and bury the line? No ugly power lines, a more reliable distribution network, and less outages in bad storms. The reason why not: it costs more. But since they have no alternative what are their options? Keep generating power with no way to get it to market?
    I’m all for renewable energy, and the generating project is already done, so why not find a way to benefit all of us? We just need to push the PUC to stand up to CMP. We need a better deal. Mass. can’t build a coal-fired plant, as they are bound by regulations to head the opposite direction, NH and Vermont are out, so let’s see how far we can push to get something that actually benefits all of us?

  21. February 12th. Lets ALL be there. Lets get together and show the big guns that we will fight this all the way.

  22. I live in Farmington for the past few years and hope to become a homeowner here in the near future. I worry about buying property, only to find out a giant eye-sore soaked in round-up is moving in next door a year later. I am a skeptic of most things in general, but I’m becoming very concerned about impacts from burning fossil fuels causing the climate to go haywire. Growth has become a cancer. It’s all based on debt, and we’ve been selling out our kids’ futures. People seem to be using more and more power for their homes, for transportation, and for businesses and “growth” especially in places like Boston and its surrounds… but not quite so much here in this neck of the woods. Many here seem to want to avoid this. It seems very risky that our electric utility is owned by a gigantic corporation based out of a foreign country who try to play it like they’re down-home. Some people talk about the ‘big picture’ as being a need for more renewables, but I see the big picture as ending all the unsustainable growth and debt. I guess that simpler lifestyle and more sane pace that most of us here in Maine value so highly doesn’t appeal to others elsewhere. I say that’s their problem.

  23. The argument about clearing a few acres, filling a few yards of wetland, songbirds freaking out and committing suicide is laughable. Go tour a mechanical logging operation and see what happens to trees and wetlands on hundreds of thousands of acres each year in Maine. And the wildlife love it!
    I am not for the power line but since cmp will crush the environmental argument the only way to stop them is financially. Demand 300M and stick to it(haha) or watch the otherwise inevitable power line be built.

  24. In addition to petitions to local government, there is a state wide petition that you can sign that thousands have, run by the Natural Resources Council of Maine. The website is http://www.nrcm.org and they are on facebook too.

  25. Captain you are correct. The real issue is that is is an unnecessary for profit project that is a bad deal for Maine. The view shed and the environmental factors are collateral damage.

    I will say this though- logging operations, especially those done using stewardship methodology, create food while maintaining cover and protecting waterways. The corridor will create a corona hum, visual eyesore and a permanent herbicide maintained slashcut that will never be grow back.

  26. Big Picture you make some very good points. The reason Mass. needs more power is their lifestyles, electris cars ,electronics, street lights etc. Those of us up here in Maine don’t use many electric cars simply because of the terrain we live in (not to mention they are pretty useless to plow snow or go fishing or hunting with) and we aren’t as clumped together so we don’t need as many street lights. Our own personal use of electronics I would dare say is much lower thatn the people from Mass.

    Captain you should go see some other logging operations around the area because you aren’t watching very reputable loggers if they are destroying wetlands also please report that VIOLATION (yes its illegal) to your nearest forest warden. As a logger myself (not mechanical) I despise loggers that do that to the land. We are supposed to be Gods stewards of the forest not land rapists.

    This deal is a scam all the way if Canada wants to produce that much power they should keep it there and make power extremely cheap for them Maine already produces an abundance of power to the grid every year.

  27. @captain planet…… the difference is, after those logging operations are finished there are restorative steps taken to close out the job, and in 50 years you would hardly tell that the operation had taken place. Hence why our forests are considered a renewable resource. If this line goes in it will look that way forever, and preventative steps will be taken to keep it that way.

  28. I clearly stated I was against the power line.i also believe environmental concerns, legit or not, won’t stop the project. Money might…

  29. To “Move On” and anyone else who is unaware of it. The Vermont Proposal is fully permitted and could be accepted by Massachusetts immediately. They went about their planning in a way that was much more acceptable to the public — by burying it, under the length of Lake Champlain and besides existing roadways. This is all the more reason this is UNNECESSARY in Maine! Mass. is hoping for the cheaper date (Maine) to take to the cleaners.

  30. So since the selectboard meeting, CMP/Iberdola has all of a sudden come up with a lot more money for the project. 5 mil here, 5 mil there- just look the other way while we create permanent irreparable damage to the environment for profits to hydro Quebec and Spanish Iberdola for power Maine neither needs nor will benefit from. This is such a blatant bribe that if I was naive I would not believe it possible. But they are doing it, rubbing it right in our faces because frankly, they think they can get away with it. Business as usual.

    So the real question becomes, as the PUC, via Barry Robbins THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE, prepare to make a ruling- does the consensus of the people matter, or does it not?????? It truly speaks to the integrity of the system.

    By the way, how is CMP doing on the integrity scale? we can trust them, right?

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