Maine’s two leading electric utilities have reached an agreement that will allow a major wind farm in northern Maine to send power into the New England grid.

The agreement between Central Maine Power and Emera Maine is the first of several transmission projects the two companies are jointly pursuing to address transmission congestion issues that must be solved to bring large-scale renewable generation into the region.

The deal allows EDP Renewables to use of a portion of a key transmission corridor known as the Bridal Path, between Houlton and Haynesville in Aroostook County. Under the agreement, Emera Maine and CMP are providing EDPR with an option to purchase a portion of the Bridal Path to develop a new transmission line. Emera Maine and CMP will retain buy-back rights to purchase EDPR’s development in the corridor.

EDPR is planning to build its Number Nine Wind Farm west of Bridgewater. It will have an installed capacity of 250 megawatts, enough power to serve 74,000 homes. EDPR has contracts with electric utilities in Connecticut and is in the process of securing permits and approvals for the project.

Emera Maine and CMP last year signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on transmission solutions for wind energy in northern Maine.

CMP is a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, which has a parent company based on Spain; EDP Renewables is a subsidiary of Energias de Portugal; Emera Maine is a subsidiary of Emera Inc. in Halifax, Nova Scotia.


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