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News

  • Rising to the Occasion: How A Grassroots Effort Ultimately Defeated Northern Pass

    Nancy Martland
    January 30, 2020

    There were so many acts of opposition, large and small, that wove a varied tapestry conveying the unmistakable message of resistance and tenacity.

  • Northern Pass Plans Appeal to Supreme Court

    July 13, 2018

    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 ...

    Read more
  • SEC Denies Motion for Rehearing in Writing

    Jack Savage
    July 12, 2018

    The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Commitee (SEC) issued its anticipated written decision denying a Motion for Rehearing requested by Eversource ...

Forest Society Comment on Mass RFP and Northern Pass

At the end of the day, the fate of Northern Pass is in the hands of New Hampshire, not Massachusetts
January 25, 2018
Northern Pass
Northern Pass at SEC

Concord, NH Jan. 25, 2018

“Given that Eversource is directly involved in the decision-making process, the news that Massachusetts selected Northern Pass for the so-called Mass RFP is not a huge surprise.

Of course, Northern Pass is not yet permitted in New Hampshire, and it faces a steep uphill climb against overwhelming municipal and public opposition at the state Site Evaluation Committee (SEC), which will begin deliberating next week (Jan. 30) in Concord.

That Massachusetts would put all of its eggs in one basket by selecting only Northern Pass, would seem risky. There’s a good chance they’ll be meeting again in March to pick their second choice.

The Forest Society, in its post-hearing memo to the SEC, calls on the SEC to deny the application, citing the unreasonable adverse impacts of the 192-mile transmission line, and the evidence that the application itself is deficient in legally important ways. The project also failed to demonstrate that it would be in the public interest of New Hampshire.

The record in New Hampshire SEC adjudicative process was closed on Dec. 22, 2017. Presumably the news out of Massachusetts will not figure in the SEC’s decision as a result.

If it does, it may not help Northern Pass’s case, as a contract with Massachusetts further reduces the already meager public benefit to New Hampshire residents and ratepayers. The public has long argued against allowing the state to be an extension cord for the benefit of Hydro Quebec and Eversource.

At the end of the day, the fate of Northern Pass is in the hands of New Hampshire, not Massachusetts. We anticipate that decision-makers in the Granite State will pay closer attention to the adverse environmental impacts of Northern Pass, as it is New Hampshire towns, landowners and businesses that are being asked to bear the burden of more than 1,000 high voltage towers through our scenic landscape.”

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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