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Poll results

Central Maine Power’s controversial $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project in western Maine received a critical “certificate of public convenience and necessity” last Thursday from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Additional hurdles remain as it makes its way through regulatory reviews by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Land Use Planning Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But a new wrinkle in the approval process has been introduced in the Legislature, where at least two bills have been introduced adding new requirements on CMP before its proposed 145-mile transmission line could be built. One bill would require CMP to receive approval in public votes from every town in the corridor before its transmission line is built. Another would mandate a study of the project’s greenhouse gas emissions before it can proceed. But Anthony Buxton, an attorney at Preti Flaherty representing the Industrial Energy Consumers Group, which supports CMP’s project, says partisan politics shouldn’t be allowed to override “the considered judgment” of regulatory officials. “If we have a process which allows a party to file for one solution and then have it reversed by the political process, what we have is no regulatory process at all,” he told the Bangor Daily News.

Do you agree that lawmakers should not interfere with regulatory processes already under way for CMP’s project?
Yes (42%, 1053 VOTES)
No (58%, 1432 VOTES)
Poll Description

Central Maine Power’s controversial $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project in western Maine received a critical “certificate of public convenience and necessity” last Thursday from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Additional hurdles remain as it makes its way through regulatory reviews by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Land Use Planning Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But a new wrinkle in the approval process has been introduced in the Legislature, where at least two bills have been introduced adding new requirements on CMP before its proposed 145-mile transmission line could be built. One bill would require CMP to receive approval in public votes from every town in the corridor before its transmission line is built. Another would mandate a study of the project’s greenhouse gas emissions before it can proceed. But Anthony Buxton, an attorney at Preti Flaherty representing the Industrial Energy Consumers Group, which supports CMP’s project, says partisan politics shouldn’t be allowed to override “the considered judgment” of regulatory officials. “If we have a process which allows a party to file for one solution and then have it reversed by the political process, what we have is no regulatory process at all,” he told the Bangor Daily News.

  • 2485 Votes
  • 49 Comments
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49 Comments

  • April 22, 2019
    Its a huge lie to call this "Green energy" native people relocated, forests underwater, clearcutting to build the line, all so people in the rest of New England, below us, can build without a thought to the environment. We are the tailpipe.
  • April 19, 2019
    Overwhelmingly, we Mainer's are rising up to say NO to CMP and the legislative agenda that is trying to benefit corporations at the expense in Mainers. Enough is enough!
  • April 18, 2019
    There is a false narrative going around that somehow this transmission line through Maine would make Maine greener. That is totally not true with over 900 acres of trees being permanently cut down for the transmission line that does not make mean Greener at all. The fact is regardless of whether or not the hydroelectric plant in Canada sells power to Massachusetts or not someone is using that power, we all live on the same Planet so you are not becoming any more green by allowing their transmission line through our state
  • April 18, 2019
    Maine already generates more electric power than we use. This project is for Massachusetts not for Maine.
  • April 18, 2019
    I would like to see the same enthusiasm people have for Notre Dame given to wild spaces like Maine’s high peaks and the surrounding region. Wild spaces do more to serve the greater good than old buildings you’ll never visit. The best fall foliage in New England is under threat of a 145 mile long power line project that will gash the landscape as wide as the Jersey Turnpike. This power will only serve Massachusetts and will provide zero benefit to Maine residents, harming tourism and natural beauty that makes Maine so special. Massachusetts is capable of putting wind turbines and solar panels in their own backyards, but instead they choose to disrespect their northern neighbors and wild lands once again. Where is your outrage for local places of ecological importance? Don’t Trashachusetts Maine!