WALTHAM, Mass. — National Grid and Citizens Energy today submitted plans to develop two projects that will transition New England to a clean energy future.
Granite State Power Link (GSPL) and Northeast Renewable Link (NRL) offer nearly nine (9) TWh of clean, reliable, affordable renewable energy, including Class I resources, in response to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Request for Proposals. By maximizing the use of existing transmission corridors and infrastructure, the projects will minimize visual and environmental impacts and drive down development costs, providing substantial benefits to Commonwealth ratepayers and host communities.
The delivery of land-based wind power and solar generation already under development from Canada and New York will make the regional energy market more competitive by diversifying fuel options. By enabling access to newly built wind and solar resources, the two projects provide the Massachusetts electric distribution utility companies with options to make meaningful progress toward Global Warming Solutions Act goals. The projects together will reduce carbon emissions by approximately three (3) million tons annually.
The projects will leverage an innovative partnership with project co-owner, Citizens Energy, to provide assistance to low-income families. Citizens will work with stakeholders to design energy assistance programs to address local needs.
“With the retirement of much of the region’s fossil fuel generating plants, Massachusetts customers need a ready path to clean, reliable, diverse power. GSPL and NRL will enable the Commonwealth to meet its environmental goals by bringing large-scale, renewable energy to customers for years to come,” said John Flynn, Senior Vice President, US Strategy and Business Development, National Grid. “We’re committed to engaging local stakeholders every step of the way and to maximizing the use of existing transmission corridors to reduce community and environmental impacts while bringing renewable energy and economic opportunity to the region.”
“Citizens Energy is proud to work with National Grid on green transmission lines to power our economy with clean renewable energy,” said Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II. “Massachusetts has made tremendous strides in phasing out fossil fuel-generation and ramping up our supply of renewable power. As a national developer of utility-scale solar arrays and green transmission, we look forward to expanding our projects and using our profits to help senior citizens and low-income families with their energy needs,” added the former Massachusetts Congressman.
Granite State Power Link
Staying within or adjacent to existing transmission corridors, GSPL will build approximately 59 miles of new HVDC (direct current) transmission line from a new converter station in northern Vermont to a new converter station in Monroe, New Hampshire. The project will deliver 1,200 MW of new wind power from Quebec that is currently in development. The project’s interconnection will require the upgrade of approximately 109 miles of existing AC (alternating current) transmission lines into Londonderry, New Hampshire.
Key facts and benefits of the project include:
Reduced energy and capacity market costs of $2.8 billion in MA, $1.4 billion in NH and $487 million in VT the first 10 years;
About 2,000 jobs created during peak construction;
Over $550 million in local property tax revenues to host communities in NH and VT over project lifespan;
Over $559 million in state taxes for NH and VT over the project lifespan;
Substantial local economic development funds for communities along the route; and,
The proven program managed by Citizens Energy to use revenue from the project to provide assistance to seniors and low-income residents.
The project has received several key endorsements and letters of support from the project route towns of Concord, Lunenburg and Waterford, VT and Goffstown, NH; Plymouth, NH; the IBEW Locals 104 and 103; Vermont State Senators and Representatives representing the Northeast Kingdom; several New Hampshire State legislators; the Central New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce; the Northeastern Vermont Development Association; and, the Vermont Association of Snowmobilers, among many others.
For more information, please visit www.GraniteStatePowerLink.com.
Northeast Renewable Link
Staying within or adjacent to existing transmission corridors, NRL will deliver up to 600 megawatts of new wind, solar and small hydro in New York by constructing a 23-mile, 345-kilovolt AC transmission line from National Grid’s Alps Substation in Nassau, NY, to Eversource’s Berkshire Substation in Hinsdale, MA. The NRL will help provide the much needed source of clean energy into the New England energy grid while providing operating flexibility on the transmission system and promoting economic development along its route in New York and Massachusetts.
For more information, please visit www.NERenewableLink.com.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that supplies the energy for more than 20 million people through its networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Read more about the innovative projects happening across our footprint in our US President’s eBook, The Democratization of Energy.
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About Citizens Energy Corporation
Citizens Energy Corporation, a Boston-based non-profit founded in 1979 by former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, has a long history of using revenues from successful commercial energy ventures to finance charitable programs to help the poor. Starting in the oil and natural gas industries, Citizens also launched innovative businesses in the health care, electricity trading, and energy conservation fields. More recently, the company expanded into the solar, wind and transmission industries – in every case using profits from its ventures to help the poor wherever it operates.