Letter to the Editor: CMP using bait and switch tactic to sell NECEC

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The Central Maine Power Company (CMP) claims, in one of their political ads, that the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project would invest $200 million to upgrade the Maine energy grid. This would require all the profit ($60 million per year) from the NECEC for 3.33 years to be diverted from investors to the Maine energy grid. Who really believes that would happen?

In 2018, CMP announced they would like to invest $214 million in the Portland-area electricity infrastructure upgrade (see March 13, 2018 article from Fred Bever). They said they could reduce that estimate by $16 million to a total cost of $198 million through unspecified non-transmission alternatives. Sound familiar?
This energy grid upgrade would be paid for by ratepayers. Legislators and the Public Advocate objected to the proposal, because it was too expensive and would not use smart-grid technology. As a result, the proposal went underground, as it was deemed confidential.

This Maine energy grid upgrade has now resurfaced in political ads from CMP that promote the NECEC. If the NECEC becomes a reality, Avangrid/Iberdrola investors would receive their substantial return from the NECEC; and, any future upgrade to the Maine energy grid would be borne by ratepayers, as CMP had originally envisioned.

It’s a bad deal for Maine!

John Nicholas
Winthrop

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19 Comments

  1. John… we have survived ‘bad deals’ before regarding CMP. Remember when the Maine Legislature broke up CMP.. a well run company…. Who benefited from that?

  2. Q; Remember When?
    Governors were honest?
    The New England Patriots sucked?
    CMP was a well run company?

    A; Vaguely,, yes.
    But a very very long time ago and has nothing to do with the here and now.

    This CORRIDOR thingy is a shady deal all the way around.
    NO FRICKIN CORRIDOR.

  3. Glen, I wonder why we need to ‘survive’ another one? If we have a choice would you vote FOR the NECEC just so you can survive again?

    We all know that this cmp NECEC is a real bad deal for Maine on a number of levels. So many, in fact, there’s no reason to list all of them here. Having studied this for over 2 years from an environmental dynamics analyst’s perspective this is a complete disaster and really does expose the deep and pervasive corruption in Maine government and the corporations that work here.

    There is really nothing redeeming about this project for anyone but the corrupted, cmp and its owners.

  4. By observation there is an certain irony in this ongoing Canadian/Mass power connect fun pack. The same folks that are and have been adamantly opposed to the project’s undertaking are, in all likelihood, the same liberal folks that voted to usher in our current one term governor. Not withstanding that the state has already rubber stamped this thing through its internal agencies and independent sub contracts have already been signed to support the construction. The punch line here is straightforward enough it’s your the very own “all things liberal” guv that is the one shafting you guys. When you figure it out, make sure you pay her back at the ballot box.

  5. A huge cloud in shape like a ? hovers. If, the people vote at referendum to oppose the NECEC, and direct the PUC to do likewise by whatever means, DOES this mean an end to this for sure or just a stalling tactic? Do the people still rule? This sure will test our rights and laws!

  6. First of all,…… NIMBY!

    Second,……. NOT a liberal!

    Third,……. It’s nobody’s business who I voted for, but for a clue, they didn’t gain office!

  7. Maybe some of you haven’t noticed, but like it or not, “we the people” are not limitless in our scope of power. Our constitution puts no limits on what goes on the ballot by petition, if the signatures are there the Sec. of State has to put it on the ballot, it is not his job to decide what should or shouldn’t be on a ballot, if it passes the vote, it goes to congress, governing the MPUC is beyond that scope of power because the commissioners are appointed by the governor, they answer to the governor, not to the people. Since the MPUC has suspended the permit pending legislative review, there is nothing to vote against, what are the people voting on, the revocation of a permit that has already been revoked on its own merits? The Maine people can’t govern the MPUC any more than the people can govern the decisions of the supreme court.

  8. It’s a power line most people will never see and will be forgotten by all as soon as another evil supposedly threatens your ‘back yard’. Remember when cutting a tree was going to ruin the planet? You chained yourselves to logging equipment to save us all. Now the forests are mowed like lawns and nobody bats an eye. I for one can’t wait for the next boogeyman to come along; this rhetoric is getting tiresome.
    Yes, Peter, I love the irony that the one thing Mills got right is pissing off her supporters! And the few from the other team that don’t believe in landowner rights.

  9. HB, as I understand it the public is trying to bring a vote to Mainers to revoke a “certificate of public convenience and necessity” from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Maine law allows for a citizens’ initiative in this form. Because the number of required votes has been achieved the question goes to the legislature whether to vote to adopt, immediately, the revocation of the certificate of public convenience and necessity, or to pass on it and allow it to be on the ballot in November. This is probably the dance they are playing because Janet would likely veto any decision the legislature makes (unless is exceeds the required % to avoid a veto) or they can avoid that confrontation and allow the people to vote. What likely happened is that when Sandi Howard approached Dunlap with this request (and following Maine law) everyone probably smirked and thought [“no way these idiots can collect that many signatures in that small window of time”]. Well, guess what? Now they have a pretty mess on their hands. I acknowledge your comment about voting in Janet ….. then she conveniently turned 180 degrees on NECEC. Personally, I am still frustrated that we can never get acceptable candidates to elect. There are no real choices any longer ….. gideon? collins? mills? moody? JHC. Can’t recall which of my dogs got the vote for governor in 2018.

  10. https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/about/commissioners/index.shtml

    These are the commissioners who approved the ‘certificate of public convenience and necessity’. Economists and corporate managers. Yep, they know a whole bunch about natural resource destruction and don’t see the need for an EIS to nail down FACTS. Then the MDEP is run now by Jerry Reid who worked with Mills to screw the Penobscot Indians over water rights in favor of a CORPORATION. See a trend?

  11. I think that Mainers should embrace hydroelectric power. If it is as green as CMP and Quebec Hydro are promoting, then we should be building more hydroelectric dams in Maine. Let the people of Maine produce the power that Massachusetts wants. Keep the profits and the work in Maine.

    If we are just running an extension cord through our state to benefit others, then this is not a good deal for Maine. If the purpose of the line were to feed power to Mainers, and shut down polluting power plants in Maine, then maybe I could get behind this project.

    Personally, I see no benefits to Maine ratepayers. This is only benefiting politicians and foreign corporations.

  12. Who really believes that would happen?

    When I read a lot of these comments and letters to editors. I see a lot of opinions. Not a lot of facts. Everyone bashes the ideas proposed but don’t offer any alternative solutions.

    As CP stated above, everyone will forget about this two seconds after the ground breaking shovel turns over that first clump of sod. I recall all the doomsayers not to long ago lamenting the demise of the Maine woods by wind power. Don’t hear a peep these days ….

  13. Big ideas from people with big pockets. Plain to the point if your neighbor has more money than you, they can do anything they want. Heck just last summer my neighbor put trees into a brook “Maine State water “, army corps of engineers, and usda. 1/2 mile over 100 trees cut and uprooted with equipment. As forest Gump says stupid is as stupid does. This is vacation land know for people who no how to take advantage of the simply nice neighbor.

  14. Chad it happens every day. Not sure about your situation but people with deep pockets simply cut what they wish and pay the fines. Happens on ponds and lakes all the time. There is a distance and a percentage you are suppose to follow along waterways and a lot of people hire a forester to mark wood when they are that close to water. I dont know what to think about digging out the stumps. As far as our mowed forests its a perfect example of corporate greed with “private” property. But wait a minute they dont pay the same taxes as I do so I should say private property on public welfare. As technology continues to erode the percentage of people and jobs involved in this industry this might change. I can remember when there use to be a balance in this industry that benefited the whole state but the desire for short term profits and the ability to cut massive areas in a short time has changed all that. I have forgot nothing but the numbers have to be there or your wasting your breath. And speaking of numbers hey CMP I am easy but I am not cheap. I want to see a partnership with you and the DIFW on a yearly basis to give back a little to support hunting,fishing and tourism in the affected areas. This amount has to be earmarked,accounted for and used to support these areas or given back to CMP. I prefer private run business even in a public utility if anywhere reasonable then rate payer owned then government run. Make the offer soon,public,in writing and loud enough for outdoors people to hear.Tic Toc

  15. People in Maine cannot stop foreign governments or out of state businesses coming in to Maine to do what they want. This is a new millennium, they are the cowboys and mainers are the Indians. Everything South of carrabassett valley is northern mass.and everything northern is southern Canada. The only little spot you can call Maine is that little plot of land you call home. Just remember people the next time you invite someone into your home, you are inviting them to take advantage of you.

  16. Chad,
    Be careful with your opinion, you never know who you’re dealing with.
    I remember the time I instantly disliked someone at the neighboring camp because they had out of state plates. And then another time a hunter with his big fancier than mine truck with out of state plates.
    Then I found out, both of them were multigenerational born and raised Mainers. Both left Maine after school to serve in the military and found good jobs after serving our country.
    Both proud Mainahs’ who owned property and had family here.
    I eventually grew up.

  17. Guess the ‘anti corridor’ group shouldn’t have let it get set up as a Liberal Socialist recruiting effort. Got lots of people to drop out of opposition. Oh well, enjoy the corridor.

    It’s 40 mi. from where I live, tho I was very in favor of blocking it…til the “NO” group came along. I wonder how many Lib voter registrations they did manage to get?

  18. OverRegulated ;I’m on the fence about the corridor,but find it very difficult to go follow the liberals.Every time the liberals support or disagree with something it cost us 💰.

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