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Judge dismisses Northern Pass lawsuit

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A judge has dismissed a case from the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) against the Northern Pass transmission line project.

SPNHF sued over a plan to bury lines along Route 3, through conservation land owned by the Society. 

New Hampshire law allows utilities to bury gas or electric lines along public rights of way such as Route 3, with permission from the state.  

SPNHF argued that the Northern Pass is an exception to the law, because the Northern Pass is a for-profit project not necessary for the reliability for the regional electric grid.  

The judge rejected this argument and said that the law applies to all utilities, public and private, for-profit or not.  

"We are pleased the Court recognized long-standing New Hampshire law that allows for the use of public roadways for projects like Northern Pass," said Bill Quinlan, President of Eversource Operations in New Hampshire. "We look forward to continuing the permitting process and moving one step closer to delivering the clean energy and economic benefits to New Hampshire and the region."

There are still several layers of permitting for the Northern Pass to proceed.  The Department of Transportation must give permission for the project to bury lines along public rights of way, including the section of Route 3.  The state Site Evaluation Committee must also approve the project.

In a statement SPNHF said they will continue to challenge the Northern Pass:  "The decision effectively kicks the can down the road relative to the ultimate resolution of important property rights issues involving Northern Pass, the NH Dept. of Transportation, and private landowners. ... We anticipate pursuing this case, and this issue, further."

Do you support the Northern Pass?  Let us know in the comments.

(Image depicts Washburn Family Forest, the conservation land surrounding Route 3)

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