Overview
- New England Clean Energy Connect began commercial deliveries on Jan. 16, tying into the regional grid at Lewiston, Maine.
- Hydro‑Québec confirmed testing was completed and the 145‑mile CMP corridor is now transmitting up to 1,200 megawatts into the grid.
- State officials and project backers project roughly $3 billion in net benefits for Massachusetts customers, including about $50 million in annual bill savings.
- Avangrid and Hydro‑Québec estimate the line will cut carbon emissions by about 3.6 million metric tons each year.
- The project advanced after years of opposition, with a 2021 Maine referendum later overturned, a final DEP permit secured, and a federal court decision leaving U.S. Army Corps permits in place; ISO‑NE says it expects contract deliveries even as Quebec manages drought‑strained reservoirs.