Maine’s Public Utilities Commission approved an 800-megawatt onshore wind project developed by Clearway Energy and a 1.2-gigawatt high-voltage transmission line proposed by Avangrid, parent of Central Maine Power, as first reported by energiesmedia.com. The approvals, finalized in September 2026, clear the way for construction in Aroostook County along the Canadian border after nearly two decades of stalled development efforts.
What it means
The regulatory green light resolves a long-standing infrastructure bottleneck that has prevented large-scale renewable energy projects from moving forward in northern Maine. The wind farm’s approval is explicitly contingent on the completion of the new transmission line, which will connect the generation assets to the broader grid. Four states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont—will share the construction costs of the transmission line, leaving Maine ratepayers responsible for less than 11% of the total expense. This cost-sharing structure addresses previous concerns about local financial burden, which contributed to public backlash and $500 million in cost overruns on earlier transmission projects in the state.
Commission Chair Philip Bartlett said the selected projects stand a very high probability of being built. Commissioner Patrick Scully described the arrangement as a historic model for collaborative regional energy planning across the United States. The project is projected to create more than 2,500 full-time jobs during the construction phase and deliver $400 million in net economic benefits to Maine consumers over its operational lifespan. Additionally, the development aims to reduce winter oil combustion at regional power plants by 10%. The transmission line will include 400 megawatts of surplus capacity, allowing for future expansion. This follows a secondary grid connection project advanced by ISO-NE, which is supported by six state governors and funded jointly by all six New England states.
Key facts
- 800 MW: Capacity of the approved onshore wind farm developed by Clearway Energy.
- 1.2 GW: Capacity of the high-voltage transmission line proposed by Avangrid.
- Aroostook County, Maine: Location of the wind turbines and transmission infrastructure.
- Less than 11%: Share of transmission construction costs borne by Maine ratepayers.
- Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont: States sharing the transmission line costs.
- $400 million: Projected net economic benefits to Maine consumers over the project’s lifespan.
- More than 2,500: Full-time jobs projected during the construction phase.
- 10%: Projected reduction in winter oil combustion at regional power plants.
Source: energiesmedia.com