The Northeast Reliability Interconnect (NRI) is an 85-mile long, 345 kilovolt transmission line that extends from Orrington, Maine to the St. Croix River near Baileyville. There it interconnects with a similar new line built in New Brunswick, linking the electrical systems of Maine and the Canadian Maritimes Provinces.

Bangor Hydro used an inclusive and lengthy stakeholder process to gather information relevant to route selection and minimization of impacts. The project then moved into the formal permitting process which included the requirement of these key federal and state permits:

• A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)
• A modification to the existing Presidential Permit from the United States Department of Energy (DOE)
• Two permits and a Water Quality Certification from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
• A Section 404 wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The MPUC approval was completed and the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the MPUC was granted in August 2005. Much of the material filed in relation to the NRI proceeding (which is docket number 2004-771) can be found on the PUC web site at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/.

Bangor Hydro Electric sought an amendment to the Presidential Permit (PP-89). As part of the federal permitting process, the DOE prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates the environmental and associated impacts of the project.

The EIS can be viewed at both the DOE and Argonne National Laboratory websites, or by clicking here. The Presidential Permit Amendment was granted on December 30, 2005 and can be reviewed by clicking here.

The DEP evaluated the project under two different laws:

• Site Location of Development Act, and
• Natural Resources Protection Act.

The application was filed on May 10, 2005 and the permits granted on October 27, 2005.

The DEP has also reviewed the project for consistency with laws relating to water quality and issued a Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

Bangor Hydro also secured local permits from nine municipalities along the route before the end of 2005.

The DEP application filing coincided with the submission of an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Section 404 permit of the Clean Water Act for impacts to wetlands. The Corps granted this permit on January 20, 2006.

During the winter of 2006, over 90% of the clearing of the right-of-way was completed. The remaining clearing was finished during the summer of 2006.

A contract to build the line was signed in May 2006 with InfraSource Transmission Services (ITS). ITS began construction in June 2006 and the line was energized on December 5, 2007.

Extensive work was also needed at the Orrington substation to support the new line. The work was handled by Cianbro Corporation and E.S. Boulos Company.

If you have any questions you can contact us at (207) 973-2568.