State, federal Northern Pass hearings

The federal Department of Energy has scheduled several hearings on the proposed Northern Pass transmission line project.  The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) will join the department for some of those hearings.

The hearing times and locations are as follows:

Colebrook (joint hearing with SEC)
Monday, March 7, 5 p.m.
Colebrook Elementary School
27 Dumont Street

Waterville Valley
Wednesday, March 9, 5 p.m.
Waterville Valley Conference and Event Center, Waterville Room
56 Packards Road

Concord (joint hearing with SEC)
Thursday, March 10, 5 p.m.
Grappone Conference Center, Granite Ballroom
70 Constitution Avenue

Whitefield
Friday, March 11, 5 p.m.
Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa, Presidential Room
101 Mountain View Road

You can pre-register to make comments, register to comment at the start of a meeting, or submit written comments.  Click here for more information on the commenting options. 

Supporters of the Northern Pass project argue that New England’s high demand energy market will benefit from the introduction of a new source of electricity, namely hydropower from Canada.  Right now the region’s reliance on natural gas means that energy prices spike during the winter.

Opponents of the Northern Pass project argue that the transmission lines will mar New Hampshire’s landscape, yet the electricity will primarily benefit other states. 

The Northern Pass must be approved by both the federal government and the state Site Evaluation Committee.