Tom Broderick

November 18, 2011

     Earlier this month, the Obama administration announced it would delay a decision on whether to permit the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until at least 2013. The State Department, in charge of the permitting process, said it needed more time to both study the environmental impacts of the project and review any available alternatives.

     Environmentalists and community organizers in New England see this decision as a hopeful sign that the proposed Northern Pass Project will be subject to the same level of scrutiny. Critics charge the Department of Energy, in charge of the permitting process for project, with mishandling the environmental review, and argue that a more rigorous analysis should be undertaken.

The Northern Pass transmission project is a $1.1 billion project to import hydroelectricity from Canada into the New England grid. In order to do so, Northern Pass, LLC has proposed building 180 miles of new transmission lines, stretching from the Canadian border to southeastern New Hampshire. The project has sharply divided the state; many see the project as a much- needed economic boost to the state, while others believe the environmental and social costs of the project are too steep.

Proponents of the Northern Pass Project cite the potential economic, social, and environmental benefits of the project. Northern Pass Transmission, LLC argues that the project is a major investment in New Hampshire's future and an economic boon for the state. The company believes the project would create roughly 1,200 jobs during the construction of the line. In addition, the lines would bring in more than $25 million in new property taxes for towns along the proposed route, money that could be used to support important public services. In addition, the company points out that the lines would provide a new source of clean energy, reducing the need for new power plants. In addition, the company plans to "avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate" any impact the construction would have on the environment.

Opponents of the project view the project as detrimental to both the environment and to the economy of New Hampshire. Any economic benefits will be short term, opponents say, and they do not think these benefits make the project worth the costs. The proposed towers for the transmission lines are as high as 135 feet. As the line is slated to run through some of the most scenic areas of the state, including some private conservation lands in the White Mountains National Forest, many citizens are worried of possible effects on tourism and recreation. Many landowners are worried the company will take their land by eminent domain, and others are concerned that the lines will substantially lower their property values.

Though the Department of Energy has, to date, engaged in limited review of the Northern Pass project, many see hope that the Keystone XL decision will spur the Department to conduct a thorough, comprehensive review.

Sources:

Ben Leubsdorf, Romney takes a Northern Pass, Concord Monitor, Nov. 2, 2011 (available at http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/289583/romney-takes-northern-pass?CSAuthResp=1321633498%3A2jqg170gn3iuq6g8q697eq5n31%3ACSUserId|CSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A3377690B55E1EF1903AF4F71DF38DB41&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1).

Conservation Law Foundation, Northern Pass: A Public Resource for Information on the Northern Pass Project, http://www.clf.org/northern-pass/ (last visited Nov. 18, 2011).

Christophe Courchesne, What the Keystone XL decision should mean for Northern Pass, CLF Scoop (Nov. 17, 2011, 11:58 AM), http://www.clf.org/blog/

Laura Knoy, The Northern Pass Debate Spreads, New Hampshire Public Radio (Nov. 10, 2011), http://www.nhpr.org/northern-pass-debate-spreads (last visited Nov. 18, 2011).

The Northern Pass, http://www.northernpass.us/ (last visited Nov. 18, 2011).