Comments in reaction to Northern Pass route announcement of June 27, 2013, which includes proposing to bury approximately 8 miles of transmission line in Clarksville and Stewartstown, NH.
"We take it as good news that the folks at Northern Pass at long last discovered the shovel," said Forest Society spokesperson Jack Savage. "They’ve said in the past that they couldn’t and wouldn’t consider burial, and it’s clear they’ve been forced to reconsider. Our objective has been to compel them to consider alternatives, and this is a baby step in that direction.”
“But if they can bury 8 miles along roadways, then they can bury 180 miles,” Savage said.
“From early on, the Forest Society has not objected to the idea of transmitting more power from Hydro Quebec," said Jane Difley, president/forester of the Forest Society. "Our strong objection has been to Northern Pass's proposed means to doing so. With this announcement it would appear that they still have in mind to erect more than 1,000 towers across New Hampshire, including our own Kauffmann Forest and Rocks Estate and other conserved lands. This continues to be of great concern to us.”
"To the extent that their announced proposal helps avoid the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters conserved land, New Hampshire is still faced with the prospect of subjecting the White Mountain National Forest and other conservation lands to private, commercial transmission towers . Everyone should be concerned about that," Difley said.
From their announcement today, it’s clear that Northern Pass officials acknowledge the fact that many people in New Hampshire object to overhead transmission towers.
The question that this announcement raises is this: Shouldn’t NP “listen” to towns like Deerfield, which has voted to have all transmission lines be undergrounded, or Concord where the Conservation Commission and Planning Boards have opposed Northern Pass as proposed?
Through the permitting process, New Hampshire has the opportunity to compel Northern Pass to look at options such as burial along transportation corridors. The passage of SB 99 may help equip the SEC with the tools it needs to make sure that New Hampshire is not sacrificed for the needs of Northeast Utilities and Hydro Quebec.
Comment from NH Gov. Maggie Hassan can be read here:
http://www.governor.nh.gov/media/news/2013/pr-2013-06-27-northern-pass.htm
The Northern Pass announcement can be read here: http://blog.northernpass.us/2013/06/27/improved-route/