Maybe the developers of the Northern Pass transmission line thought they could slip their plans by without anyone noticing – but no such luck. After the initial round of public hearings and a groundswell of opposition, the project has been delayed while they go back to the drawing boards and come up with something different.
The plan is to build a high-voltage transmission line from the Canadian border near Pittsburg, NH, to Franklin, NH, a distance of some 140 miles. Steel towers from 70 to 150 feet high, one every 1,000 feet, would support the line along 400-foot right-of-way. It’s all part of a deal between Northeast Utilities and Hydro-Quebec to bring power from Canada to southern New England.
It should be noted that this is strictly a private enterprise. No government agency or entity requested it. But the early publicity was seductive. Lots of cheap new power from a popular alternative source – hydropower, lots of new jobs, etc. It looked like a done deal. New Hampshire’s governor was all for it.
The same consulting firm that drew up the initial plans was then hired by the EPA to write the environmental impact report.
But wait! Doesn’t that sound like a conflict of interest?
And then people found out that all this wonderful power would flow through a big cut into the White Mountain National Forest, and through some prime tourist area. Questions were raised.
Then, Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Rep. Charlie Bass – most of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation = asked the U.S. Dept. of Energy to take a closer look at this.
The result is a small, maybe temporary victory for opponents. The developers have asked for an extension while they go back and re-work some of their plans. Stay tuned.
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