BANGOR — A jury awarded $13.6 million Friday to an electric cooperative that sued for breach of contract over a failed transmission line deal.
Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative sued after a deal fell through to buy a portion of a transmission line connecting three wind farms to the power grid.
First Wind, now owned by SunEdison, wanted to sell a 12.5-mile stretch of the power line in 2011 to Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, but the deal fell apart because of questions over who would be responsible for repairs, said the cooperative’s attorney, Sigmund Schutz.
Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative CEO Scott Hallowell said the verdict vindicates his company’s position that First Wind acted in bad faith during the negotiations.
An attorney for the defendant was not available for comment Friday evening.
The defendant wanted Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative to buy insurance to avoid liability for damage, while the cooperative said the defendant had agreed to pay for damages.
The verdict went against First Wind Holdings and TerraForm Power Inc., which operates power plants for SunEdison. TerraForm is now responsible for the three wind farms, Stetson I and Stetson II in Washington County and Rollins in Penobscot County, along with the transmission line, officials said.
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