New England public advocates file lawsuit over transmission project

MAINE MORNING STAR • May 14, 2026

Public advocates in several New England states have sued to block a $360 million transmission project through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The proposed project, called X-178, would reconstruct 49 miles of transmission facilities, including replacing 580 poles. The Maine Office of the Public Advocate joined its counterparts in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to sue Eversource Energy Service Company, arguing the company mischaracterized the project as necessary to repair “damaged or destroyed” facilities. Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn said Eversource is “shoehorning” a large rebuild of transmission assets to avoid stakeholder concerns. “That will directly cost Mainers more money.”