CONCORD — The second half of the regulatory war over the Northern Pass Transmission project began in confusion Friday as the opposition opened its case before the Site Evaluation Committee in the months-long proceedings.
Eversource’s final witness Les Otten, who is redeveloping the Balsams Resort, was grilled about the timing of the project’s economic development fund’s $5 million loan and his support of the transmission line. Then the hearing quickly ground to a halt.
Under questioning by Tom Pappas, representing Counsel for the Public, Otten testified that his company has received about $25 million in deposits for future residences at the $143 million Balsams project.
Otten acknowledged that he received an “investment loan” from Northern Pass’s Forward NH Fund of up to $5 million in February 2016 that he called “extraordinarily important to the Balsams redevelopment. It’s a very depressed area of the state and (the loan) is a big help to get redevelopment moving.”
Pappas asked if there was any documentation to follow or agreements the Balsams had to do in order to receive the loan.
Otten said he did agree to provide testimony in support of the project and supplemental testimony and to testify before the committee.
“So as part of receiving funding NPT or Forward NH you are required to testify,” Pappas asked, and Otten agreed.
Attorney Jason Reimers, representing the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, pressed Otten on when he went public with his support for the Northern Pass project.
Prior to the loan, had Otten publicly supported the project? Reimers asked.
“I don’t have a recollection,” Otten said. “I spoke when asked about Northern Pass and I talked to the (North Country) Chamber of Commerce prior to that date.”
Reimers asked when that was and Otten said it was a couple of months before the loan.
Otten said he had discussed the project with former Eversource President Gary Long in 2014 and knew about the Forward NH Fund in late 2015.
During Pappas’s questioning, Otten acknowledged that he did not have to provide financial information or other documentation to receive the loan, nor is there a re-payment schedule, but he did say the money does have to be repaid.
Click below to read the full story by Garry Rayno on InDepthNH.org