Maine's Wind Power Gets $1.7B Boost From 5 States

Northern Maine has some of the best wind in the nation, but for years it's been locked away from the homes and businesses that need it most.

That's changing right now. Maine's Public Utilities Commission is closing bids this month on a groundbreaking project that could power hundreds of thousands of homes with clean, affordable wind energy.

The commission is seeking proposals for massive wind and solar farms in Aroostook County, plus the transmission lines needed to deliver 1,200 megawatts to New England's power grid. Awards could start this month.

What makes this attempt different from past failures? Five states are splitting the bill.

Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont agreed to share the costs of building new transmission infrastructure connecting remote northern Maine to the regional grid in central Maine. Previous attempts collapsed when Maine tried to shoulder the burden alone.

"It's basically the biggest opportunity that we have for low-cost renewable energy in the medium term," said Jack Shapiro, climate director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

A 2021 attempt fell apart after COVID-19 and inflation drove up construction costs. The proposed projects would have cost about $1.7 billion over 30 years, and Massachusetts only joined negotiations at the last minute. Developers and state officials couldn't finalize the complex agreements.

Northern Maine currently runs on its own electric grid linked to Canada rather than to the rest of New England. Building the infrastructure to connect southward has stumped planners for years, even as climate goals push states away from fossil fuels.

The timing matters more than ever. New England faces rising electricity demand and sky-high winter costs when natural gas supplies run low. Wind power is cheapest and strongest exactly when the region needs it most: cold winter nights when heating demand peaks.

The Ripple Effect

Once wind turbines go up, they keep spinning every time the wind blows with minimal operating costs. That means stable, affordable power that doesn't depend on fluctuating fuel prices or importing energy from distant sources.

The cheap wind power could dramatically lower electricity costs across all five participating states during expensive peak demand periods. Right now, New England has to fire up oil-burning "peaking" plants that drive regional energy costs through the roof.

Dozens of energy companies are competing for the contracts, from local Maine firms to international giants like Italy's Enel and Norway's Equinor. The commission is keeping proposals confidential until it announces winners.

Local business groups in Aroostook County supported the 2021 effort, hoping for jobs and economic development in Maine's northernmost region. Politicians have stayed quieter this time but may speak up once the state announces its selections.

Together, these five states are proving that the biggest clean energy challenges get solved when neighbors work as one.