Maine regulators have selected two companies to develop a major wind energy and transmission project in Aroostook County, a move expected to unlock the region’s largely untapped renewable energy potential and strengthen New England’s clean energy supply.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Tuesday named Clearway Energy Group LLC to develop a wind power project capable of generating up to 800 megawatts of electricity in northern Maine.
The commission also selected Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power, to construct a high-voltage transmission line that would connect the proposed wind facility to the wider New England electricity grid.
The development is regarded as one of the most significant opportunities for large-scale renewable energy generation in the New England region. If completed, the proposed wind farm would become the largest in Maine, surpassing the state’s existing land-based wind generation capacity of about 900 megawatts.
PUC Chair Phil Bartlett said the project would deliver significant financial benefits to Maine electricity consumers. According to him, customers could save at least $387 million over the lifetime of the project.
Bartlett also said the development would generate substantial economic activity, particularly in northern Maine. He projected that the construction phase could create thousands of full-time jobs and contribute about $2.4 billion in economic output to the state.
The transmission component is also expected to have long-term importance for Aroostook County. By linking the county more directly to the New England power system, the new line could make it easier to develop additional renewable energy projects in the region.
PUC Commissioner Patrick Scully said the lack of adequate transmission infrastructure has historically made it difficult to develop northern Maine’s renewable energy resources and connect them to electricity markets in the south.
He noted that the high cost of constructing long transmission lines, combined with congestion on existing infrastructure, has been a major obstacle to expanding energy development in the area.
Under the current plan, Maine intends to purchase 600 megawatts of electricity generated by the project. The remaining power would be made available to other New England states, according to PUC spokesperson Susan Faloon.
The project is being developed through a regional effort involving Maine as well as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. The participating states are seeking to expand access to reliable renewable electricity while strengthening the regional power grid.
Maine electricity customers will bear the cost of the power purchased under the agreement and are expected to fund approximately 11 per cent of the transmission line, according to the commission.
However, regulators have not yet released all the details of the financial arrangement. Faloon said further information would become available once the PUC completes negotiations and finalises a power purchase agreement with Clearway.
Clearway’s proposed wind development is expected to be located on commercial timberland in rural, unincorporated southeastern Aroostook County.
Nick Benjamin, Clearway Energy Group’s Northeastern Development Director, said the proposed location has several advantages, including access to existing roads, proximity to transmission corridors and strong, reliable wind resources.
He said the project would provide long-term benefits to Maine by helping to keep energy costs more stable while attracting significant investment to northern communities.
Benjamin added that the development would also contribute to meeting the electricity needs of Maine and the wider New England region as demand for cleaner energy continues to grow.
Despite the regulatory approval, construction is still several years away. The project must undergo extensive engineering, environmental assessments, permitting processes and community consultations before development can begin.
The construction of the wind generation facility will also depend on the development of the proposed transmission line. Without the new line, the additional electricity generated in northern Maine would face difficulties reaching the regional power grid.
The initiative dates back to 2021, when the Maine Legislature directed the Public Utilities Commission to pursue the development of new wind generation and transmission infrastructure in northern Maine.
An earlier attempt to develop a similar project was abandoned in late 2023 after negotiations concerning the proposed transmission line failed to reach an agreement.
Avangrid, which has now been selected to develop the new transmission infrastructure, said its proposal is designed to minimise environmental disruption by making use of existing power corridors and rights-of-way wherever possible.
Company spokesperson Jon Breed said the approach could reduce uncertainty associated with developing new transmission infrastructure and limit the potential impact on the surrounding environment.
Breed, however, stressed that the selection of Avangrid represents only an important early milestone in the process. He said significant engineering work, environmental reviews, regulatory approvals and consultations with local communities would still be required before construction could proceed.
The project is expected to play a major role in Maine’s renewable energy ambitions by combining new wind generation with expanded transmission capacity.
For Aroostook County, the development could also mark a turning point in efforts to commercialise its abundant wind resources and establish the region as an important contributor to New England’s clean energy transition.
No Comment! Be the first one.