The Twin States Clean Energy Link is a proposed 211-mile transmission project that aims to deliver Canadian hydropower to New England via Vermont and New Hampshire. Recently, the project was chosen as one of three initiatives across the country to receive backing from the U.S. government. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Transmission Facilitation Program. National Grid, Citizens Energy Corporation, and Northeastern Vermont Development Association have partnered to bring 1,200 megawatts of clean, dispatchable energy to New England at a cost of $2 billion. The project is currently under consideration by the U.S. Department of Energy for federal funding.
The Twin States Clean Energy Link proposal comes at a time when the 145-mile New England Clean Energy Connect, a controversial $1 billion hydroelectric transmission project connecting Canada and the region, has been approved by a state jury in Maine. The proposal also comes five years after Eversource’s 192-mile Northern Pass project was rejected by the state’s Site Evaluation Committee.
The project would rely on most of the current transmission corridors and infrastructure, as well as some new underground lines. In New Hampshire, the project would utilize a majority of existing transmission corridors and infrastructure, along with some new, buried lines.
The Twin States Clean Energy Link project proposes to bring Canadian hydropower through Vermont and New Hampshire to New England, utilizing a majority of existing transmission corridors and infrastructure, along with some new, buried lines. The Twin States Clean Energy Link project proposes to bring Canadian hydropower through Vermont and New Hampshire to New England, utilizing a majority of existing transmission corridors and infrastructure, along with some new, buried lines. At the Vermont-New Hampshire border, there would be an underground crossing below the Connecticut River, connecting to approximately 26 miles of new underground lines along Route 135 from Dalton to Monroe. From there, nearly 110 miles of upgrades to the existing transmission corridor from Monroe to Londonderry would take place.
According to Gov. Chris Sununu, the Twin States Clean Energy Link is a “low-impact plan” that’s a “win-win for families and businesses across the Granite State”. The project would reduce New England’s carbon output “by millions of metric tons per year,” while furthering growth of the region’s clean energy economy.
The Twin States Clean Energy Link is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and operation. The project partners say it will deliver clean power and economic benefits to New England.
CEO
