MAINE PUBLIC • June 12, 2025
A plan to conserve 50,000 acres of woodland near a new electric transmission line in Western Maine is facing opposition from environmental groups. Critics say the proposal fails to meet state permit requirements designed to protect mature forest and wildlife habitat. Avangrid, the parent company of electric utility Central Maine Power, was obligated to conserve land to compensate for destroying forest to build a new 51-mile transmission line from Quebec called the New England Clean Energy Connect. "Within the permit there are pretty clear requirements to promote habitat connectivity and the conservation of mature forest areas and the plan submitted by NECEC falls pretty far short of these requirements," said Luke Frankel, Woods, Waters and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. The council, along with Maine Audubon, Appalachian Mountain Club and Maine Council of Trout Unlimited filed 20 pages of comments on the plan, which is awaiting approval by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.