BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 4, 2021
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is asking the Biden administration to reevaluate its approval of a presidential permit for a $1 billion project aimed at bringing Canadian hydropower to the New England grid. The presidential permit issued by the Department of Energy in January provided the green light for the interconnect at the Canadian border. Other agencies had already signed off. In his letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Golden raised several concerns, including the adequacy of the environmental review and public input compared to similar-scaled projects in New England. Three conservation groups are suing to require a more detailed study of the impact on the environment, and a referendum drive aims to let people have the final say on the project.