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V O L . X X V I I I N O. X V I I I A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 14 G R E AT E R B A N G O R / N O R T H E R N M A I N E A lthough northern Maine has long tried to draw on its natural resources to provide renewable power, the region hasn't been able to fully tap into that potential. But now work is underway to boost generation of clean electricity in Aroostook County and direct that power south, while creating jobs and economic opportunities in the rural area. Under a 2021 state law, the Maine Public Utilities Commission is look- ing to connect amore renewable power sources with ISO New England, which operates the power grid across six states, including most of Maine. e law calls for new wind and solar generation to help meet Maine's energy and climate goals, in addition to biomass facilities to support the regional forestry industry. A request for proposals, published last November, seeks "viable and cost-effective" projects for portions of Aroostook and Washington counties. Bids for transmission projects were due in March, while proposals for renewable generation were due in early May. Most of the bids will remain confi- dential until November, although one company, Con Edison Transmission, has chosen to publicize its proposal. Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who championed the legisla- tion, says he's been told "bids are going to come in as good if not cheaper than what we're paying right now" for elec- tricity. But he adds a caveat. "e intent was that there's a lot of low-cost power in Aroostook that needed to get out, had a chance to get out, but the transmission [issue] was holding it up," he says. "If it costs more to ratepayers, I don't support that." But cheaper power for county resi- dents won't be a direct benefit.. Maine Public Advocate William Harwood points out that nothing in the commission's RFP indicates the potentially cheaper power would be sent to northern Maine residents, who generally aren't connected to ISO New England. "e electrons [created by these generation projects] are going to go in one direction. ey're going to leave Aroostook County and head toward ISO New England," says Harwood. "And there are going to be no electrons head- ing north [from these facilities] to serve customers in Aroostook County." at's because the County isn't directly connected to the New England power grid. Instead, an organiza- tion known as the Northern Maine Independent System Administrator does, acting as the "referee for sellers and buyers in the market," Harwood explains. Versant Power serves as the grid's operator. Any extra energy is then pushed through New Brunswick's transmission system before being redirected to ISO New England's grid. e process results in higher costs for northern Maine. "at's made it basically untenable to have any generation that's beyond what's actually going to get consumed locally here," says state Sen. Trey Stewart, R-Aroostook. He pegs that regional demand at around 70 megawatts. Work that results from the RFP won't unhook northern Maine from the Canadian grid, according to Harwood. However, there could be potential to later build transmission infrastructure between the new proj- ects and Aroostook County. But unless that happens, the round- about power transmission means "we just don't hold our destiny in our hands" in northern Maine, says Jackson. In Harwood's opinion, the RFP won't do much to lower rates for Mainers in the region. eir prices might go down "indirectly" if there is a reduction in ISO New England's prices and power is then routed up through New Brunswick, Canada, and back into Aroostook. "But that's a bit of a stretch," Harwood says. Economic trade-offs Paying comparatively higher energy costs in northern Maine puts pressure on local businesses, according to Shawn Lovley, the director of the Aroostook Energy Association. If the business is part of a larger company with units spread across the country, the local unit can be at a disadvantage. P H O T O / J E R R Y & M A R C Y M O N K M A N / DA N I TA D E L I M O N T / A D O B E S T O C K OR BUST? As Aroostook County waits for new law's impact, officials are seeing dollar signs B y B r i d g e t R e e d M o r a w s k i F O C U S The electrons are going to go in one direction. They're going to leave Aroostook County and head toward ISO New England. — William Harwood Maine public advocate The Mars Hill Wind Farm is a prominent landmark in Aroostook County. Energy boom

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