Northern Pass To Resume Case Before NH Site Evaluation Committee

MANCHESTER, NH — Northern Pass officials yesterday filed a motion with the N.H. Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) requesting the committee vacate its recent decision and resume deliberations on the proposed project. The motion outlines a comprehensive set of commitments that could provide the basis for granting conditional approval. The solution presented by Northern Pass is comprised of conditions received from New Hampshire state agencies (DOT, DES, DHR, PUC*) that have approved the Project and conditions agreed to with Counsel for the Public, the statutory representative of the New Hampshire public interest.

Additionally, Northern Pass presents examples of additional conditions the SEC could impose to address specific concerns expressed during its deliberations. Project proponents representing communities, businesses, and workers joined Northern Pass in encouraging the SEC to thoroughly evaluate the solution offered by Northern Pass, as well as the $3 billion in benefits the project will bring to the Granite State.

"We appreciate the time and effort invested by the SEC members in reviewing Northern Pass," said Eversource New Hampshire President Bill Quinlan. "Given the urgent need for cleaner, more affordable energy in the region, it is important that we present for consideration a solution that addresses the legitimate concerns raised during deliberations. We are hopeful that the SEC will focus on the comprehensive set of commitments that would establish a constructive path toward a resolution."

Key Commitments

In its original SEC application, Northern Pass contemplated the need to further economic development, tourism, community investment and clean energy innovation, and these are the four focus areas for its $200 million Forward NH Fund. Key commitments highlighted in today's motion include the following specific allocations from the Fund:

• $25 million to address property value impacts in affected communities
• $25 million for promoting tourism and recreation in the affected areas
• $25 million for economic development in host communities to address local impacts

In addition, the proposed commitments include:

• Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) in the downtown areas of both Plymouth and Franconia to reduce construction impacts to businesses and residents
• Energy cost benefits for business and low-income customers from the sale of clean energy attributes (up to $300 million)
• Transmission upgrades in the North Country to promote existing (400MW) and new small-scale renewable generation ($50 million)
• Dedicated funding for the North Country Job Creation Fund to support economic development and job growth ($7.5 million)
• Public interest program funding to advance energy efficiency programs for customers ($20 million)
• Right-of-way lease benefits that will lower customers' transmission costs and advance distributed generation, energy storage and electric vehicle initiatives ($30 million)
• The unallocated balance of the $200 million in the Forward NH Fund is available to the SEC for further conditions ($100M)

What is at Stake for New Hampshire and the Region

Northern Pass stands to provide $3 billion in economic and environmental benefits to New Hampshire. Benefits include:

• $30 million in additional New Hampshire state and local tax revenue annually
• $62 million annual energy cost savings for New Hampshire consumers
• Approximately $600 million annual reduction in the region's wholesale energy costs
• 2,600 jobs for New Hampshire during peak construction
• A reduction in regional carbon emissions by more than 3 million tons per year

Northern Pass has received rigorous environmental reviews and approvals from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Forest Service, as well as several New Hampshire state agencies, which confirmed many positive aspects of the project, including the route selection, environmental and economic benefits, and the much-needed large, new, reliable, clean source of power Northern Pass would bring to the regional energy mix.

*Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Services, Department of Historical Resources, Public Utilities Commission.

To learn more about Northern Pass, go to northernpass.us.

Submitted by Martin Murray.