Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. X X V I O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 7 26 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 F O C U S 3. We're not underground, we're not sub-sea. 4. We are the only group that can say, 'We recently delivered a major transmission project on time and under budget.' So when you ask the question, 'Can you get it done?' We can answer, 'Just in 2015, we fi n- ished a $1.4 billion upgrade. ere are not a lot of other big transmis- sion projects that can make that claim they completed the job on schedule and under budget.' We have the team that can do it. MB: Can you comment on your proposal's cost and power pricing? SB: No. When you submit bids to an RFP, no one is talking about their price. We're not speaking to our price and that's because here's one scenario we think could develop: e decision is supposed to be made in January. ey could get down to two major projects and come back to us and say, 'You are the two we're looking at. Give us your best and fi nal price.' So I don't want to be out telling peo- ple what our bid is. But I believe, based on what I know about all these projects, that we are the lowest-priced project. I would also say that our parent company, Iberdrola, had a huge impact. As we went out to price this, we used an Iberdrola sourcing team, an expe- rienced team. e scale of Iberdrola's capital spend and their power in the market is refl ected in our price. MB: If your bid is accepted what are the next steps for CMP? SB: Massachusetts starts a negotia- tion process to lock it down. I think they put in June 2018 as the deadline for that stage of the process. So, right after I clap and say, 'Hurrah' for our team,' then you've got to get on these schedules. You are committing to a time-frame. On the Hydro-Quebec project, we're committing to 2022. On the NextEra project, we've have put forward three diff erent time-frames and they would be saying which one they would buy. But if you are the winner, you've got a schedule on which you must deliver what you've said you would. MB: If you are successful, it's obvious- ly a project that will benefi t Maine's economy. Can you talk to what kind of work would be part of this? SB: We took the project and we gave it to Daymark Energy Advisors and they put it through their economic modeling. Right now they're saying it has about $40 million per year for Maine in annual electricity cost savings to ratepayers over the 20-year forecast period (2023-42). e other benefi t is that a fi rm load of hydropower reduces our depen- dence on natural gas. Our dependence on natural gas is a risk, and the risk is that the price will go up. e third benefi t for all of New England is that it lowers greenhouse gas emissions. I think New England number is 3 million metric tons annu- ally. So that's a benefi t for all of us. Now, in Maine, we'll get the con- struction jobs — with total number of » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E AAA Energy's preventative maintenance programs can extend your mechanical equipment's life, while increasing its reliability and eciency. Be proactive, to keep your customers and employees comfortable, your products consistent, and your processes running smoothly. To learn more call 207.883.1473 or email info@aaaenergy.com Serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts aaaenergy.com Proper Maintenance or unexpected repairs? HEATING AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERATION MAINTENANCE DESIGN/BUILD New England Clean Energy Connect Bidder: Central Maine Power, in conjunction with Hydro-Quebec Energy Services Description: Deliver up to 1,200 megawatts of renewable power — hydro- electric power or a combination of hydro and wind power — from Canada to the New England power grid. Transmission component: Project consists of 145 miles of new high voltage direct current transmission line that will tie into the existing transmission system, as well as some upgrades to existing system. Location: New transmission line will come into Maine at the Canada border in Beattie Township and run through working forest for 51 miles before merging with an existing CMP-owned transmission line right-of-way in The Forks for 94 miles. New substations to be located in Lewiston and Pownal. Timeline: If bid is accepted by Massachusetts, construction is expected to begin in 2019 and project to be completed by 2022. Economic benefits: NECEC projected to deliver $150 million in annual electricity cost savings to Massachusetts ratepayers and $40 million annually to Maine ratepayers over 20 years. S O U R C E : Central Maine Power AT A GLANCE

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