PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An attempt to thwart a statewide vote on Central Maine Power’s proposed $1 billion hydropower transmission corridor failed Monday when a state judge rejected a lawsuit targeting the legality of petitions used to put the proposal on the November ballot.
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ruled that the secretary of state didn't abuse his discretion in interpreting state law or by declining to conduct a hearing on disputed petitions. Furthermore, she wrote that there was a “competent record” to support the findings.
“The court made the right decision today. Mainers deserve a vote on CMP’s corridor," said Sandi Howard, a leading opponent of the project.
CMP’s proposal calls for construction of a 145-mile (233-kilometer) transmission line to bring 1,200 megawatts of electricity from Hydro-Quebec to the New England power grid.
The lawsuit supported by CMP-aligned Clean Energy Matters contended some notaries hired by opponents of New England Clean Energy Connect violated state law by engaging in other campaign activities, and that some of the signatures were forged.
The secretary of state rejected some of the signatures — 16,332 in total — but found that there were enough valid signatures to surpass the threshold of about 63,000 signatures by 3,050 votes.
Barring further appeals, the judge's decision sets the stage for a costly statewide campaign leading up to the November vote.
Clean Energy Matters already has spent about $7.2 million and Hydro-Quebec has spent $2 million on public education efforts. Most of that money has gone to television, digital and radio ads promoting the project, but CMP spent $100,000 on private investigators who delved into opponents’ petition-gathering practices.
Supporters say the New England Clean Energy Connect would benefit Maine and the region by lowering carbon emissions by the equivalent of more than 700,000 vehicles, while also reducing fossil fuel usage and stabilizing electricity costs.
Opponents say the project would create environmental damage and hurt homegrown solar, wind and biomass projects in Maine.
The project was conceived to meet Massachusetts’ green energy goals and is funded by Massachusetts ratepayers.
Most of the transmission line would follow established utility corridors, but a new swath would be cut through 53 miles (85 kilometers) of wilderness on land that CMP owns in western Maine.
The project is moving forward despite the ballot proposal: The New England Clean Energy Connect already awarded more than $300 million in contracts for upgrading transmission lines and clearing land for the project led by Central Maine Power.
Project officials said they expect to have remaining regulatory approvals by this spring. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has signaled support, but hasn’t given its formal approval. The Army Corps of Engineers also must sign off on the project.