The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently
released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Northern Pass Transmission, LLC's proposed 187-mile
transmission line across the United States-Canada border in New
Hampshire.
If approved, the line would have the ability to
deliver 1200 MW of hydroelectric power from Quebec into
southern New England—a potentially tantalizing amount of
power for policymakers seeking to diversify the region's generation
portfolio and lower its GHG emissions. At the same time, it
may have unintended consequences such as causing existing
zero-emission nuclear facilities to retire prematurely as
market-clearing prices in the region decrease.
As the agency responsible for issuing a Presidential permit
authorizing the construction and maintenance of international
transmission lines, DOE is required to evaluate the environmental
effects of and alternatives to the proposed Northern Pass project.
In the end, DOE's decision will hinge on
