Avangrid’s hydropower project gets final Maine permit despite losing referendum

After Years of Controversy, Maine Hydropower Project Receives Final Permit

Avangrid Inc. has secured the last permit needed from Maine officials to complete its contested hydropower transmission line project, bringing the long-delayed energy initiative one step closer to powering Massachusetts homes.

The New England Clean Energy Connect corridor, designed to deliver up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the regional grid, has overcome significant legal and political hurdles after Maine voters rejected it in a 2021 referendum. Opponents had mounted a campaign arguing the project would damage the state’s woodland areas.

Despite this public opposition, a jury ruled in 2023 that project developers had a constitutional right to proceed with construction. With the final permit now in hand as of November 19, Avangrid is on track to complete testing by mid-December, after which the system can begin delivering electricity.

“We have secured every permit, met every regulatory requirement, and overcome significant challenges because we believe we must address the urgent need for reliable energy at a time of rising demand,” said Avangrid Chief Executive Officer Jose Antonio Miranda in a statement.

The 145-mile transmission line stretches from Lewiston, Maine, to the Canadian border. While most of the corridor follows existing utility rights-of-way, a new 53-mile section cutting through western Maine’s forests became the focal point of environmental opposition.

The project represents a significant development in New England’s energy landscape as the region continues its transition toward cleaner energy sources. Massachusetts, facing growing electricity demands and ambitious climate goals, has been particularly interested in securing hydropower from Quebec to reduce its carbon emissions while ensuring grid reliability.

However, the controversy surrounding the transmission line highlights the complex challenges facing renewable energy infrastructure projects across the United States. Even as states and power companies seek to decarbonize the grid, local opposition to large-scale energy projects remains a persistent obstacle.

Seth Berry, executive director of Our Power, a Maine energy nonprofit that did not take a position on the corridor, noted that the prolonged legal battles have created lasting tension between Avangrid—owner of Central Maine Power, the state’s largest utility—and Maine residents.

“Unless future energy projects bring better benefits for impacted Maine communities, such as shared ownership, we can expect to see an ever-greater backlash against elected leaders and against the industry as a whole,” Berry said.

The project’s journey reflects broader tensions in America’s energy transition. While proponents argue that infrastructure like the New England Clean Energy Connect is essential for meeting climate goals, critics question whether the environmental costs and impacts on local communities are justified.

Energy analysts note that the completion of this corridor could influence how future interstate energy projects are developed. The successful navigation of legal challenges despite a public referendum may set precedents for how similar projects address regulatory and community concerns.

For Avangrid, the final approval represents the culmination of years of regulatory processes, legal battles, and public relations campaigns. The company has consistently framed the project as a critical component of the region’s clean energy future, emphasizing the corridor’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing reliable power.

For Massachusetts, which will receive the majority of benefits from the imported Canadian hydropower, the project’s completion will mark a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to reduce its reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels.

As the project moves toward operational status, attention will now turn to its actual performance and whether it delivers on the promised benefits of clean, reliable energy for New England consumers, particularly as the region faces growing concerns about winter energy reliability and rising electricity costs.