Another wind and transmission project under Massachusetts’ clean energy request for proposals (RFP) has been laid out by Maine Power Express LLC (MPX), a joint venture of Loring Holdings LLC, National Resources Energy LLC and Transmission Developers Inc.
The proposed MPX is a 1,040 MW high-voltage, direct-current transmission line to be buried completely underground in an existing energy corridor and underwater from Maine to Boston. MPX LLC and Con Edison Transmission Inc. (CET) have been advancing the development of the project.
County Line Wind is a proposed 630 MW wind facility located on forestry lands in Penobscot and Aroostook counties in northern Maine. County Line Wind would use MPX to deliver Class I renewable resources straight into Boston.
“Con Edison Transmission is excited about the opportunity to bring clean, renewable energy to a major demand center in Massachusetts at a low delivered cost,” comments Timothy Frost, vice president of CET. “Boston would gain additional reliability, economic benefits and access to clean energy. This unique transmission project has the ability to accommodate additional generation resources, creating flexibility for the Massachusetts utilities to optimize energy deliveries.”
Hayes Gahagan, managing member of MPX LLC, adds, “The Maine Power Express utilizes the optimal route for connecting stranded wind resources in northern Maine directly to the Boston load center with minimal environmental impact. The MPX project does not require unsightly transmission towers, utilizes an existing energy corridor, avoids the taking and clearing of lands, and has no adverse impact to the marine environment.”
Both the County Line Wind and MPX projects would go into full operation in 2022. Massachusetts is expected to select projects from the RFP in January 2018.
