Central Maine Power's $1 billion project tests unity of Maine House Democrats

Central Maine Power’s lobbying strength could be put to the test on Tuesday, when the Maine House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill that would make the state study the emissions impact of the utility’s $1 billion corridor proposal.

It will be the first vote in the chamber so far on a bill aimed at the controversial project that would bring Quebec hydropower to the regional grid and is backed by Gov. Janet Mills over the opposition of more than a dozen western Maine towns that it would pass through.

The bill sailed through the Democratic-led Senate earlier this month, but the House is looking like a different environment. The Tuesday vote could also foreshadow how the Legislature may react to legislation coming up for votes soon that has a better chance at killing the project.

There have been signs that the heavily lobbied corridor has more support from House Democrats who could form an alliance with Republicans. The transmission line, which the Democratic governor backed after several interested parties inked a $260 million benefits package, was approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in April and it is in other permitting processes before two other state agencies now that could finish in the fall.

Read more: https://bangordailynews.com/2019/05/21/politics/daily-brief/central-maine-powers-1-billion-project-tests-unity-of-maine-house-democrats/