More than half a dozen Canadian and US electricity suppliers have stepped up to compete for the right to bring clean energy to Vermont and the New England marketplace via a proposed 1GW transmission line.
Seven companies have submitted expressions of interest totaling 3200MW to the New England Clean Power Link, said Transmission Developers Inc.
The 154-mile $1.2bn high voltage direct current cable would extend from the Canada-US border to Ludlow, Vermont. About 100 miles will run under Lake Champlain and the balance buried underground in existing rights-of-way.
The line into the VELCO transmission grid will serve Vermont and the broader New England market.
TDI CEO Donald Jessome said: “The response to the open solicitation indicates that suppliers have a broad awareness of the energy, economic and environmental concerns of the New England region and recognize that the Clean Power Link will be one of the first projects that is ready to help meet the region’s pressing need for cleaner and more diverse sources of power.”
TDI and consultancy Boston Pacific expect to review and evaluate the bids by 18 December and then negotiate directly with selected parties for the sale of transmission rights.
Vermont regulators recently issued eight permits for the project that confirm it complies with state water quality standards and the federal Clean Water Act.
Image: (Sxc)
