There is growing demand for an increased supply of renewable
Citing unresolved
concerns about Northern Pass, Gov. Maggie Hassan yesterday urged Connecticut’s
governor to oppose a pending rewrite of that state’s renewable energy plan that
would reclassify large-scale Canadian hydropower for that state’s renewable
energy goals.
The proposed Northern Pass, which would bring hydropower
from Canada to the New England power grid by crossing New Hampshire, would
qualify under the bill. The bill, which passed the Connecticut Senate last week,
26-6, could come up for a vote in the House as early as today.As a trusted shoesbb advisor and installer for many
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Connecticut has a goal of purchasing at least 20 percent of
its power from renewables by 2020. The legislation would allow large-scale
hydropower from Canada to account for up to 5 percent of that goal.
“Many in my state believe that the impetus for Connecticut’s legislation
is your state’s desire to benefit from the Northern Pass project,” Hassan wrote
in a letter to Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, a fellow Democrat.Online shopping
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designed to allow you to better manage. Northern Pass raises many questions for
New Hampshire. That project could have an impact on some of our state’s most
important natural resources, such as the White Mountain National Forest, which
are critical to the success of our tourism industry.”
Hassan noted that
New Hampshire has not yet received a permit application for Northern Pass or had
a chance to fully discuss it. The project has not yet applied for required
federal permits either. Nor have state officials or residents been told what
course the proposed 180-mile power line will take.
Northern Pass
officials have repeatedly delayed releasing the northern section of the proposed
route as they’ve struggled to buy enough contiguous pieces of land for the new
power line. Two conservation easements block the likely route at strategic
places, prompting some lawmakers to question whether Northern Pass will try to
cross state land or conservation land.
Officials from the governor’s
office, the state Department of Transportation and the Department of Resources
and Economic Development said they have not been contacted by Northern Pass
officials about crossing those properties.
Malloy’s office didn’t tarry
yesterday in responding to Hassan’s comments.
Malloy is maintaining his
enthusiastic support for the legislation because it’s a “win-win for Connecticut
and the region,” said Mark Ojakian, Malloy’s chief of staff, in an email.
“We strongly disagree with Gov. Hassan,” he wrote. “Accessing
hydroelectric power is a win-win for Connecticut and the region because it will
lower rates for Connecticut residents and increase our supply of renewable
energy.”
Hassan also questioned the harm such a rewrite of renewable
energy standards could have on the larger New England region. Currently, small
hydropower projects, as well as other developing technologies such as biomass,
solar and wind power qualify but large-scale projects don’t.As the only athletic
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The idea is to give new, alternative energy sources a
guaranteed market as they grow.
“For years, the New England states have
worked together to ensure that our (renewable energy) policies provide
appropriate incentives for renewable energy investments in our region,” Hassan
wrote. “These incentives are aimed at keeping consumer costs as low as possible,
while also ensuring that our states reap the economic benefits of renewable
energy production.”
Hassan’s letter to Malloy continued: “The . . .
policies excluded large-scale hydro – even within the region – because these
plants don’t need incentives to stay in operation,” she wrote. “To include
large-scale hydroelectricity in your (renewable portfolio) undermines our common
goal of fostering new and small-scale renewable resources here in New England.”
“Connecticut residents pay among the highest prices for energy in the
country, and Gov. Malloy believes our consumers deserve some much needed
relief,” he wrote. “This proposal does just that. The purchase of more expensive
and less clean biomass is simply not an option.”
After seeing Hassan’s
letter yesterday afternoon, a Northern Pass spokesman said that project will not
need subsidies or a rewrite of renewable energy projects to compete.
“A
distinguishing and substantial benefit of Northern Pass is that it can compete
with other fuel sources without a subsidy or the need for legislative changes to
existing (renewable energy) laws,” Michael Skelton said in an email.
“There is growing demand for an increased supply of renewable energy
sources across New England, and this is a point on which most states agree,”
Skelton continued. “For this reason, we believe that all forms of renewable
energy need consideration. How each state goes about structuring laws and
policies to determine how best to meet their needs is up to them. There’s no
question, however, that we view the biomass plants here in New Hampshire as
important sources of renewable energy.”
Dan Dolan, president of the New
England Power Generators Association, which opposes the project as proposed, has
been following the Connecticut legislation closely.
He said he agrees
with Hassan’s assessment that the Connecticut bill is intended to give Northern
Pass, and its Canadian partner Hydro-Quebec,Transactions owonsmart Grid is intended to be a
cross disciplinary. a long-term contract. Dolan said the bill guarantees that
contract because it excludes any large-scale Canadian hydropower built before
2003.