NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine,
July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Maine's
two largest utilities have agreed to jointly develop electric
transmission projects to enhance the strength and capacity of the
state's bulk power grid and improve access for new generation
resources.
Emera Maine and Central Maine
Power (CMP) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for
joint project development which identified a number of potential
projects that could be developed together. The projects would
improve links between southern New England and northern Maine,
where more than 2,100 megawatts of wind power development have been
proposed. The agreement between the utilities comes in response to
a call by the six New England governors for investments in the
region's energy infrastructure to diversify the energy portfolio
and gain access to new renewable energy resources.
As the state's two largest utilities, Central Maine Power and
Emera Maine serve more than 95% of
Maine's homes and businesses. The utilities have significant
expertise with transmission projects, including the MEPCO
transmission line that extends from central Maine to New Brunswick, Canada.
The companies have outlined two initial phases of work. Phase
One will analyze the feasibility of each project, including
technical feasibility, public policy, regulatory considerations,
and outreach to other potential parties to the project. Phase Two
will include all development activities from design, engineering,
siting, through construction bidding.
Central Maine Power is the state's largest utility serving
605,000 homes and businesses in the southern third of the state.
The company is nearing completion of the Maine Power Reliability
Program, a $1.4 billion investment in
new transmission lines and substations to reinforce its 345,000
volt bulk power grid.
"Our Maine Power Reliability Program is the largest construction
project ever in Maine, and one of
New England's largest transmission projects," said Sara Burns, president and CEO of Central Maine
Power. "It's a vast and complex undertaking, but four years into
construction, the project is on time and on budget."
Emera Maine, which includes the
former Bangor Hydro Electric and Maine Public Service, serves
approximately 154,000 homes and businesses in eastern and northern
Maine. Significant transmission projects completed by Emera Maine include the 43-mile, 115,000 volt
Downeast Reliability Project, and the 85-mile, 345,000 volt
Northeast Reliability Interconnect in 2007.
"Electric transmission can be a significant challenge to new
low/no emitting generation sources seeking to enter our New England
market", said Gerard Chasse,
president and COO of Emera Maine.
"That's a challenge that our companies have been working together
on for some time, particularly in Northern Maine. With this
MOU we are renewing and expanding these efforts to identify and
develop creative and cost effective transmission solutions to
benefit the State and the region."
Both companies have long records of service in Maine and direct ties to the international
utility industry. Central Maine Power has operated in Maine since 1898. The company was acquired by
Iberdrola in 2008, which is the world's fifth largest utility based
on market value, and the world's largest wind energy company. In
the U.S., Iberdrola USA is the
nation's second largest wind energy company, and it operates
electric and gas utilities serving nearly 3 million customers in
New York and New England.
Emera Maine is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Nova Scotia based
Emera Inc., a full service energy company operating throughout the
Northeast U.S., Atlantic Canada,
and the Caribbean.
Iberdrola USA is the
U.S. subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola, S.A. The
Iberdrola USA companies employ
about 5,000 people with operations in 24 states from New England to
the West Coast, providing electricity generation, transmission and
distribution, natural gas storage and distribution, and energy
services. For more information, please visit our website:
www.iberdrolausa.com. Follow us on Twitter: @IberdrolaUSA
Video -
http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-20140707-NY63215-1.mp4
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140128/MM54425LOGO
SOURCE Iberdrola USA