CONCORD — Northern Pass officials plan to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court by an Aug. 13 deadline in an effort to jump-start a hydroelectric transmission project that a state committee denied.

The Site Evaluation Committee on Thursday issued a 72-page written decision that, it says, “memoralizes” its May 24 deliberations over whether to reopen hearings on Northern Pass.

“This starts the clock for us,” said project spokesman Martin Murray.

The project attorneys have until Aug. 13 to file their appeal, which could take a year for a decision, Murray said.

The committee had unanimously rejected the $1.6 billion project on Feb. 1 and on May 24 rejected requests to reconsider its decision and resume deliberations. The 192-mile Northern Pass route, which includes 60 miles underground, would run from Pittsburg to Deerfield.

Project foe Jack Savage, vice president of communications and outreach with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, said his group already was preparing for a likely appeal.

“Northern Pass was a fundamentally flawed project and we believe the SEC made the right decision to deny a permit and were right to deny the motion for rehearing,” Savage said. “We will continue to defend New Hampshire’s landscapes at the state Supreme Court from the too many, too high towers of Northern Pass.”

Countered Murray: “We do believe we have a strong case to make and we’ll be appealing.”
 

Click here to read the writtent SEC decision denying the  Motion for Rehearing.