Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Maine Power Connection officials met with local and state leaders, business representatives and community members during a business breakfast held Sept. 23 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center,
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GUESTS LISTEN as Brent Boyles, president and CEO of Maine & Maritime Corporation and its subsidiary Maine Public Service Company, explains what a proposed transmission line connecting northern and southern Maine would mean to Aroostook County residents and businesses.
providing an update on the proposed $625 million transmission line that would connect central and northern Maine to the New England power grid.
Guest speaker for the breakfast, hosted by UMPI and Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development, was Brent Boyles, president and CEO of Maine & Maritime Corporation and its subsidiary Maine Public Service Company.
Boyles stressed the importance of the line, which would close a 25-mile gap between Houlton and Haynesville.
“The connection is needed to link southern and northern Maine,” said Boyles, noting other options had been looked into, with no success.
“Competition wasn’t working. In Sept. 2007 it was determined competition was a failure and we needed to do something about it,” said Boyles.
At that point, Maine Public Service and Central Maine Power began discussing ways to provide better, more efficient service. The two companies joined together, creating the Maine Power Connection, and began looking for solutions, eventually determining a transmission line upgrade was the way to go.
“It’s about creating a stronger infrastructure. We have a number of wind projects in the works. We’re looking at 800 megawatts of proposed wind generation. That’s more energy than Aroostook County needs. The new line will allow the excess to go on the New England grid, to be used elsewhere,” said Boyles.
Boyles said in addition to the Mars Hill wind farm, projects are being considered in the Bridgewater, Fort Fairfield and St. John Valley areas. An upgraded transmission line is needed to provide such projects a way to access the market.
“Like potatoes, excess power needs to be sold. County residents can’t eat all the acreage of potatoes grown; farmers have to sell the excess. The same holds true for energy generated by businesses like the wind farms,” said Boyles.
Land acquisition will be required for some portions of the 345 kV transmission line. Although some parts will follow existing corridors, additional power line corridors will have to be constructed to accommodate the new line.
With oil prices remaining high, Boyles said it was important to take advantage of natural resources to create energy whenever possible and that Aroostook County could be a leader in the green-energy market.
“Northern Maine does a lot better. Most resources indigenous to the county are renewable. We need to take full advantage of that. That’s our niche,” said Boyles. “It’s very important on a personal basis for me for Aroostook County to take the lead to get away from dependence on foreign oil and gas.”
Boyles said people in northern Maine are doing a really good job in conserving energy, in light of rising energy costs.
“We hope to increase transmission in order to decrease cost,” said Boyles. “If cost is driven by our dependence on oil and oil prices keep going up – if we can interject some zero-cost wind energy, it will help reduce costs.”
Boyles said northern Maine had a key role to play in helping reduce energy costs. He said improving the infrastructure by extending the transmission line would also help attract more new businesses and would encourage others to expand.
“Businesses need power. The line would serve as a selling tool when trying to attract new businesses to the area,” he said.
Boyles said of the $625 million price tag, 92 percent of the cost would be picked up by the rest of New England served by the grid. The remainder would be divided between CMP and MPS customers.
“MPS’s portion is relatively small, compared to CMP’s. Of the remaining 8 percent of the cost, MPS would be responsible for about .7 percent. Part of our (MPS’s) agreement in doing this is that our customers would face a rate increase. The project will be paid for by everyone but rate payers in northern Maine,” said Boyles.
Boyles said in addition to creating a link for energy generated locally to get to the New England market, there will be other benefits created by the upgrade.
“The route along the transmission line will need to be kept clear, so crews will be needed to trim trees, cut grass. The same holds true for wind projects. Roads will need to be maintained year-round to the turbines; maintenance crews will be needed. And those jobs will, in turn, create work elsewhere. Those employees will buy gas, groceries, shop in local stores,” said Boyles. “This will promote economic development and could lead to the creation of over 900 jobs.”
The line will also generate tax dollars.
“The line will run from Limestone to CMP’s transmission system near Detroit. That will generate tax dollars for communities along the route. That’s an estimated $13.3 million in estimated property tax revenue, just from the transmission line. Add to that the tax revenues from wind projects and other businesses,” said Boyles.
Boyles emphasized how important the line was to Aroostook County and the state.
“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to provide the infrastructure for renewable energy development. The interest from developers changed our focus from a smaller to a larger line,” said Boyles.
“This is a great economic opportunity to become the center for renewable energy in the entire region – at least for New England,” said Boyles.
For more information, call 866-914-1944 or visit www.mainepowerconnect.com.
