MAINE PUBLIC • December 15, 2021
Maine’s business court heard arguments Wednesday over whether the developers of a controversial electricity corridor through Western Maine should be able to resume construction or are bound by last month’s vote on Question 1. Central Maine Power and it’s partners on the New England Clean Energy Connect had already completed more than 40 percent of the $1 billion project by the time they agreed to stop work on November 19. That was more than two weeks after Maine voters had the ballot question that sought to stop the corridor project in its tracks. Now, the corridor’s developers are arguing that they have “vested rights” under Maine’s Constitution and law. But corridor opponents sought to dismantle the “vested rights” arguments by pointing out that CMP knew the risks long before construction began.