The article includes a mention of the jobs associated with the project. CMP reports that between 2,500 – 2,700 people are working on the project on a daily basis.

The Northern Pass project also anticipates job creation. Our economic study released one year ago estimates a peak in the range of 1,330 – 1,680 jobs during the first two years of the three year construction period.

A listing of potential job opportunities is posted here. You can sign up here to be notified in the future about project job fairs.

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns regarding conservation of The Balsams property.  There is a good deal of misinformation that has been disseminated online and in the press regarding Northern Pass and its efforts to acquire an easement over a small portion of The Balsams property.

Contrary to that misinformation, Northern Pass fully supported conservation of the approximately 5800 acres of Balsams property that was ultimately placed under a conservation easement, and believes that the roughly 55 acre utility easement that it sought to purchase was entirely consistent with the conservation effort.  Northern Pass’ offer totaled $2,200,000 which included $2,000,000 that could have been used by Tillotson Corporation to promote its North Country conservation and economic development mission, and an additional $200,000 contribution to Tillotson Corporation that would have been used to improve the delivery of medical care to Coos County residents.  These funds would have been in addition to the $850,000 that the SPNHF paid to Tillotson for the conservation easement.

We will never know how many thousands of acres could have been conserved, or how many hundreds or thousands of people would have received health care or improved health care, had Tillotson Corporation chosen not to reject the benefits that accepting Northern Pass’ offer would have delivered.  Had Tillotson chosen to accept the offer by Northern Pass, the approximately 5800 acres would still have been conserved as it is today, but the North Country would also have received a substantial infusion of funds that would have had a much broader positive impact on the lives of people in the North Country.

Landowner Newsletter - March 2012

The third issue of The Northern Pass – Landowner Newsletter was distributed to property owners on or about March 30.
The issue focuses on the role of transmission and the unique and important habitat that transmission corridors provide.

The patrols are part of the a routine vegetation maintenance program to ensure reliable delivery of energy.

The survey of 527 randomly selected NH adults indicates that there is more support for the project (42 percent) than opposition (37 percent) among those who are familiar with the project.

Strong support of the project has increased modestly to 16 percent, compared to 14 percent last April; while, Somewhat Support has grown to 26 percent from 19 percent.

Meantime, Strongly Oppose has remained flat at 23 percent; while, Somewhat Oppose decreased to 14 percent from 15 percent.

*The Granite State Poll is sponsored by WMUR-TV and conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. This survey was conducted between January 25 and February 2, 2012.

From the HQ response:

The facts on hydropower emissions, using a life-cycle analysis approach over a period of 100 years, are actually quite simple. Québec hydropower emissions are:

•similar to those from wind power
•only a quarter of those from photovoltaic solar facilities
•40 times less than those from a gas-fired power plant
•about 100 times less than those from a coal-fired plant.

As we’ve noted previously, New Hampshire’s Climate Action Plan has set an aggressive goal of reducing carbon emission 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050…

The Plan’s recommended actions include the importation of hydro power from Quebec; a project like The Northern Pass.

“…The Task Force recommends that New Hampshire strive to
achieve a long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of
80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050…”

New Hampshire Climate Action Plan, 2009

Is it any wonder that the New Hampshire Climate Change Policy Task Force recommended 67 separate actions as a means toward achieving its aggressive goal to significantly reduce emissions of carbon? The fact is that there is no one single solution to the challenge.
The Plan’s recommendations run the gamut – from honing energy efficiency programs, to promoting stricter fuel economy standards.
One action of the 67 is particularly relevant to The Northern Pass project:

Enable Importation of Canadian Hydro and Wind Generation

“…To the extent that it reduces or does not raise electricity rates to the consumer, high voltage transmission lines should be built to import clean power generated from Canadian hydro and wind sources as a complementary policy to developing non-CO2-emitting generation in New Hampshire. Canada is developing vast new hydro and wind generation resources, which are greater than their local needs. This creates an opportunity for New Hampshire and the entire Northeast to obtain clean power…”

(EGU Action 2.6)

The fact is, there is little debate in New Hampshire or elsewhere on whether or not hydropower from Canada will result in reduced carbon emissions. It will. The challenge is over how to import such energy; how to transmit that low carbon energy in a manner that makes sense from both an economic and engineering perspective – and, that also is respectful of New Hampshire’s environment and natural landscape.

That is why we found it surprising that the Conservation Law Foundation would expend resources to purchase a study challenging the total carbon reduction that may be achieved when The Northern Pass is complete.

It is ironic, too, in that the developers of the CLF study, Synapse Energy, is the same firm that touted a similar hydropower project as a replacement for the energy produced by a nuclear power plant – which emits zero carbon:

“…(T)he Champlain Hudson Power Express … would connect Quebec to New York City.  It will bring a significant amount of renewable generation directly to New York City…”

Indian Point Energy Center Nuclear Plant Retirement Analysis
Synapse Energy Economics, Inc, Oct. 2011

We want to assure the CLF that we share its interest and commitment to protecting and improving New England’s environment. In keeping with the NH Climate Action Plan, we believe that The Northern Pass can be an effective part of a comprehensive overall strategy to reduce emissions of carbon.

From his prepared remarks:

“We should not dismiss out of hand hydro power from Canada. We should be open to exploring approaches for accessing this power,” Governor Lynch said. “But the proponents of Northern Pass need to listen better. This project cannot happen without local support. And it should not happen with eminent domain.

We agree with Governor Lynch that New Hampshire needs to diversify its power sources and bring more renewable energy to the state.

The Northern Pass will bring that diversity, in the form of renewable energy that actually helps reduce energy costs here and across New England.

We amended our project application last year, after listening to public concerns, and we are now working successfully with property owners to purchase land or easements to develop an acceptable route in that area of the North Country where there is no existing transmission right of way.

The project currently has property rights to the vast majority of the land necessary for building the transmission line within existing rights of way, and we reiterate our position that The Northern Pass is not predicated on the use of eminent domain.

Landowner Newsletter Jan 2012

The second issue of the Northern Pass Landowner Newsletter is now available.

The edition focuses on the status of the project; as well as view shed and property value impact.

The project currently has property rights to the vast majority of the land necessary for building the transmission line within existing rights of way; and, we are working successfully with property owners to purchase land or easements to develop an acceptable route in that area of the North Country where there is no existing transmission right of way.

Contrary to claims by some project opponents, the Northern Pass project is not predicated on the use of eminent domain.

The use of eminent domain for utility purposes is an extremely rare occurrence in New Hampshire, and we believe that existing State law is sufficient protection for property owners.

We are reviewing the amendment passed today by the NH Senate and what impact, if any, it may have on the project if enacted. Our initial review of the amendment suggests that:

• The Forrester/Bragdon amendment appears to allow FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and ISO-New England policy—not New Hampshire—to dictate the use of eminent domain on transmission projects.

• Our understanding is that this FERC policy hasn’t been determined yet, and we look forward to working with federal and regional regulators on development of a policy that fully considers projects like Northern Pass, and we are confident that given the reliability, low cost, and environmental benefits that this project provides we will be able to develop structure that is conducive to the development of the project.

While we continue to analyze the amendment and it is considered by the House, our work on the project continues.