Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington, the Senate chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, thinks the lawsuit by New England Clean Energy Connect challenging the voter-approved law has merit. But he says the situation illustrates how the federal government should have oversight of transmission projects that run across state lines or, in this case, across international borders.
“It should never have been the province of the state of Maine,” he said.
Barrett is hopeful the Maine project will move forward, but if it doesn’t he said a major reevaluation of the state’s climate change plans needs to take place. Roy thinks the state should focus on expanding its offshore wind and solar power resources, but Barrett isn’t sure either one can be ramped up very quickly.
“All of us, the Legislature included, need to reboot and figure out what Plan B really looks like,” Barrett said.
Read more…