Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 23 O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 F O C U S T R A N S P O R TAT I O N / I N F R A S T R U C T U R E and, signifi cantly, hydroelectric power from Hydro-Quebec. Mainebiz sat down with CMP President and CEO Sara Burns to discuss CMP's New England Clean Energy Connect proposals. e fol- lowing is an edited transcript. Mainebiz: Tell us about the proposals you've submitted in response to an RFP from Massachusetts. What's be- hind the state's RFP for clean energy? How might that impact Maine? Sara Burns: ISO-New England's depen- dence on natural gas is of concern to all ratepayers in New England. One of the issues that people don't pay attention to is that we're one common market. We're not a 'Maine' market and a 'Rhode Island' market, etc. We're one common market. So natural gas is the fuel that's being used predominantly to produce electricity in this market as we speak: It's right now at 55% for natural gas and 29% nuclear. MB: And we know Vermont Yankee has shut down, leaving only Seabrook, Millstone and Pilgrim nuclear power plants for New England's market. SB: You're going right to my point. All of those nuclear power units have a life cycle. Seabrook has a long life cycle, but Pilgrim already announced it will shut down by mid-2019. So I think for all of us, as we look at the challenge of our current fuel mix, with natural gas being more than half, the ques- tion becomes: Does this make you feel comfortable over the long term? MB: In effect, if the fuel mix continues the trend of relying even more heavily on natural gas, we'd be putting all our eggs in one basket? SB: Exactly right. And if the price of nat- ural gas goes up there's going to be a great sucking sound out of New England's pocketbooks. It will raise the cost of electricity. So I think what Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts are doing is taking a responsible, longer- term look at this challenge. ALLEGIANT • AMERICAN • DELTA • UNITED Before you take off , take a moment to notice what's new at Bangor International Airport, where things just keep getting better and better. You'll love our light-fi lled terminal, modernized service counters, and state-of-the-art baggage handling — all designed to get your journey off to a great start. A better travel experience begins right here. Visit FlyBangor.com. A Smoother Journey, from Ticket to Takeoff . Now with year-round service to Newark as well as JFK and LaGuardia BGR_MaineBiz_100417.indd 1 10/4/17 5:08 PM BANGOR, MAINE • 207.947.4501 • RUDMANWINCHELL.COM Just ask our clients, and they'll agree with Jim. For over 100 years, Rudman Winchell has earned the trust and respect of businesses all across the state of Maine. Give us a call and find out what we can do for you. A TRUE STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR YOUR BUSINESS Jim Rogers, President, HealthConnect Networks: "With Rudman Winchell's help and legal expertise , we've saved over a 1,000 hospitals and clinics more than $50 million." C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas If the price of natural gas goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to goes up there's going to be a great sucking sound out of New England's pocketbooks. It will raise the cost of electricity. — Sara Burns President and CEO, Central Maine Power

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