Maine's Wind Power Plan Could Light 100,000s of Homes

Northern Maine has some of the best wind in New England, but for years it's been stuck there with no way to reach the homes and businesses that need it.

That's about to change. Maine's Public Utilities Commission wraps up its latest bidding process today for massive wind farms and transmission lines that could unlock Aroostook County's renewable energy potential.

The commission is reviewing proposals for both wind and solar farms in northern Maine, plus new transmission infrastructure to deliver at least 1,200 megawatts of clean power to the regional grid. That's enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes across New England.

This marks the second attempt in five years to make this happen. The previous effort in 2021 selected projects worth $1.7 billion over 30 years, but the deals fell apart when COVID-19 and inflation drove costs up and negotiations with Massachusetts stalled at the last minute.

"This RFP builds on prior stakeholder input and regional transmission planning to move renewable energy projects in northern Maine from concept to reality," commission chairman Philip Bartlett said when launching the new request for proposals in December.

The big difference this time? Five states are working together from the start. Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont plan to share the costs of building new transmission lines that would connect Aroostook County's isolated grid to central Maine and beyond.

Northern Maine currently runs on its own electric grid linked to New Brunswick, Canada, rather than the rest of New England. The region has fantastic wind resources but lacks the infrastructure to export that power south.

"It's basically the biggest opportunity that we have for low-cost renewable energy in the medium term," said Jack Shapiro, climate and clean energy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Once wind turbines go up, "they just keep turning, every time the wind blows."

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend far beyond clean energy. Wind farms are generally cheaper to build and operate than new fossil-fueled plants, which could help lower electricity costs across the region.

Winter is when this really matters. New England needs the most energy during cold, dark months, and wind tends to blow strongest at night and in winter. That's exactly when natural gas supplies get tight because most gas goes to heat homes, leaving power plants scrambling for expensive alternatives.

During these peak times, grid operators call on oil-burning "peaking" plants that are costly to run and drive up energy bills across the region. Reliable wind power could reduce dependence on these expensive backup plants.

Local leaders in Aroostook County have supported the effort, hoping the projects will bring good jobs and economic development to rural communities. Business groups including the Aroostook Partnership and Maine Chamber of Commerce backed the previous attempt for the same reasons.

Dozens of energy companies, from local firms to international giants like Italy's Enel and Norway's Equinor, have signed up to receive updates on the commission's bidding process. The commission says it may begin announcing winning projects as soon as this month.

After years of trying to unlock northern Maine's wind potential, the pieces are finally falling into place to turn concept into clean energy reality.