When LS Power withdrew its proposal to build a controversial high-power transmission line across Maine this summer, the news created uncertainty for the future of the foreign-owned wind turbine project and the transmission line was supposed to connect to New England’s grid.
The proposed wind farm, set to be developed by Longroad Energy — a company that is 92 percent controlled by investors from outside the United States — was given new hope Monday when the Biden-Harris administration delivered a taxpayer-funded grant worth $425 million to support the construction of the transmission line by a separate foreign-owned company.
According to a press release from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Avangrid a $425 million capacity contract to help advance the so-called “Aroostook Renewable Project,” a proposed “clean energy transmission line project” in northern Maine.
That transmission line is key to making Longroad Energy’s “King Pine Wind” project viable, as without the transmission line, power from the yet-to-be-constructed wind turbines wouldn’t be able to reach New England’s grid.
Avangrid — the parent company of Central Maine Power (CMP) — is majority owned by Iberdrola, a Spain-based company whose largest investors include the Qatar-owned wealth fund BlackRock, Inc. and the Norwegian Government Pension Fund.
Longroad Energy is a Boston-based company comprised of former executives from First Wind. The group’s new venture, however, is backed 92 percent by non-U.S. entities, including the New Zealand government pension fund, the New Zealand-based Infratil, and the German asset manager MEAG.
This is one of the largest sums of federal taxpayers’ dollars that has been awarded in Maine for energy-related initiatives to date, but most of the financial benefit will be directed toward foreign-owned corporations.
The proposed 100- to 140-mile transmission line is expected to carry about 1,200 megawatts worth of energy generated by wind turbines in northern Maine. The proposed turbines would easily become the tallest man-made structures in the state.
CMP’s parent company Avangrid explained in a statement Thursday that they were awarded the DOE contract as part of the agency’s Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP).
“Transmission line development, and the ability to connect clean, affordable energy to the New England power grid is one of the most effective tools available to combat climate change while also enabling a stronger, 21st century economy,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO.
Azagra’s comments refer to the common belief that power generated by wind turbines is “clean” and will, by replacing alternative sources of power, be more friendly to the environment.
“We are grateful for the leadership of President Biden and Secretary Granholm as we continue to work to modernize the nation’s transmission system in Maine and across the country,” said Azagra.
Although the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) first launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the proposed transmission line in 2021, it was forced to delay development in December 2023 after the original developers — LS Power — were unable to go through with the project for the agreed upon price.
Throughout LS Power’s negotiations over the transmission line, the exact price paid to LS Power for managing the line — the term sheet — remained secret and unavailable to ratepayers.
[RELATED: The Heavily Criticized “Aroostook Renewable Gateway” Suffers Another Setback]
In May of this year, the Maine PUC initiated proceedings to re-open its procurement process and began seeking responses to a Request for Information (RFI) and Indications of Interest.
A PUC spokesperson told the Portland Press Herald Wednesday that the agency does not have an “anticipated date” for issuing an RFP.
Throughout the debate over the wind power project and the transmission line, advocates for the projects have claimed that they would result in lower energy costs for Mainers.
There is currently no evidence publicly available to directly support this statement, however, as both the price to transmit the power and the price that will be paid to generate it have remained confidential.
A study funded by Longroad Energy and LS Power is the only research available to date that has offered backing for this claim, although the exact numbers have been redacted from publicly available documents.
The study itself was conducted by Daymark — the firm where Maine PUC Commissioner Carolyn “Carrie” Gilbert used to work — while she was still an employee and before she had been confirmed to the commission.
On September 18, 2023 — in response to inquiries from the Maine Wire — Gilbert said that she has recused herself from any matters pending before the Maine PUC relating to former clients of Daymark, including Longroad Energy and LS Power.
Avangrid indicated in its press release Thursday that it intends to participate in the transmission line’s RFP and will include the $425 million capacity contract as part of its proposal.
While it is unclear how much of the project’s energy Maine would buy, the original agreement proposed by LS Power would have seen the state purchase 60 percent of the power, with Massachusetts buying the other 40 percent.
“This unprecedented investment from the Biden-Harris Administration has the power to transform the energy future of northern Maine,” Gov. Janet Mills (D) said in a statement Thursday.
“By expanding our transmission infrastructure, this investment can make the electric grid more stable and reliable and allow us to harness affordable, clean energy generated right here in our own backyard instead of having to import expensive and harmful fossil fuels from out-of-state,” she continued.
“I thank the Biden-Harris Administration, including Secretary Granholm, for recognizing this potential and for once again delivering vital funding that can benefit Maine people for generations to come,” Mills concluded.
Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Press Release
While many environmentalists have touted the transmission line as an effective means of carrying a significant amount of green energy from a proposed wind farm — expected to be the largest onshore wind project east of the Mississippi — it generated significant opposition from those in the area, including residents, business owners, and elected officials.
Although the transmission line is projected to increase the cost of electricity for CMP ratepayers, the company expects the $425 million DOE contract to significantly lessen the burden.
According to 2023 estimates — and excluding the now-awarded DOE contract — ratepayers were expected to bear about $1 billion worth of costs for the transmission line’s development.
Supporters of the transmission line have suggested that any projected cost increases will ultimately be outweighed by lower electricity rates driven by energy generated on the proposed wind farm, although specific figures supporting this statement do not appear to be publicly available at this time.
“We have been watching this whole thing and in the spring identified costs as being a problem,” Jon Breed — a spokesperson for CMP — told The County. “We went and solicited this capacity contract from the DOE to lessen the burden on ratepayers for the cost of the transmission line.”
First of all, the DOE grant to a single potential bidder while excluding other potential bidders is illegal. A J Biden administration speciality. And then there is the price escalation of project costs due to government intervention, which will haunt the ratepayers.
And because the Deep State is intent on eliminating fossil fuels, the five natural gas fired plants and the one oil fired plant are being threatened with shutdowns, leaving Maine with reliance on wind and solar for power because batteries will surely price electricity beyond the means of the majority of the citizens of the State.
If there was ever a gift to present to Troy Jackson (the initial sponsor of this scam) as he moves onto loftier heights( as in wind mills), it would be to terminate this project before it even starts. The PUC, the DEP and the Maine Legislature best be ready for revolutionary action when they consider permits for this boondoggle
I wonder how much Mills & co will be lining their pockets with?
Retirement is on the horizon.
You’re all so stupid. Those things don’t generate any power. The blades would have to be waaaaaaaay wider. Stupid stupid stupid fools you all are haha ha ha hahahahaha ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hahahahahahaha ha ha ha ahahahahahahaha ha ha ha
And who owns CMP?
Years ago, before the great majority of Maine’s press was owned/controlled by Soros’s minions, I think I recall reading that then, Governor Angus King, made a lot of money facilitating the early land sales, leases and permits for erecting windmills. Could our Governess Mills be doing the same now? Hard saying, not knowing.
When Baldacci left the Blaine House I am pretty sure he signed in with a wind company. The destruction of a once beautiful state continues.