Town of Caratunk

Office of Selectmen

PO Box 180 Caratunk, Maine 04925
207.672.3030


Re: Comments on Application permit for the New England Clean Energy Connect
from Quebec-Maine Border to Lewiston and Related Network Upgrades

To whom it may concern,

Please accept these comments regarding Central Maine Power Company?s application for the

New England Clean Energy Connect project. The Town of Caratunk is within the project
boundaries and is, therefore, directly and indirectly affected.

On March 21, 2018, a CMP representative pitched a brief, overview presentation to the Caratunk
Selectmen regarding this project. The representative was looking for a letter of support for their
application. Later that week, Caratunk sent in a general letter of support. However, since that
time, much information has been brought to light. The Selectmen share great concerns for the

welfare of Caratunk residents as well as the State of Maine should this project be brought to
fruition.

l. The Town of Caratunk has had no representation in this mitigation proceedings. The

Town of Caratunk wants to participate and be represented in permitting decisions for this
application because the Town is within project boundaries.

The Town of Caratunk has not been contacted or asked to be on the board of the LLC
handling the mitigation ?inds. presentation stated that the Town and community
would receive bene?ts, yet instead, a few CMP representatives privately negotiated only
with a few isolated business owners.

Should this project go forth as stated, Maine energy would be locked up and prevented
from engaging in any ?iture renewable energy generation projects. Caratunk has already
twice supported NextEra for a solar farm within its boundaries. This DC line blocks
access to solar or other energy projects in Caratunk and Somerset County. One such
solar project lost in direct competition to this NECEC. The valuation benefit from
additional transmission lines does not even compare to a large solar project in
Caratunk. Caratunk is against the NECEC project if it prevents future renewable energy
opportunities that provide for a huge tax bene?t to all landowners and signi?cantly
increase the Caratunk valuation. Therefore, Caratunk sees this project as reducing its tax
revenue.

This project is forcing 1000? of transmission lines across a Scenic and Wild River, the
Kennebec River, where Caratunk residents make their livelihoods in the whitewater
rafting, ?shing and hunting tourism industry. Tourists from all over the country travel to

the Kennebec for world class Whitewater rafting and kayaking and remote ?shing through
the Kennebec gorge. Removing the Scenic and Wild and remote wilderness aspect of our
area is a direct detriment to Caratunk residents and businesses.

5. Additionally, this corridor is negatively impacting native Maine nature and wildlife as
many environmental groups and DIFW have attested.

6. This project is not bene?ting the Maine ratepayer with lower rates or cleaner energy. In
fact, it may increase greenhouse gas emissions. The Town of Caratunk and its citizens
have an interest in lower energy costs and clean energy sources.

7. Evidence regarding Hydro-Quebec?s hydro intentions and practices suggest that the
pro?ts HQ intends to make on the NECEC would greatly in?uence its energy production
or lack thereof for the grid and negatively impact Maine ratepayers. Caratunk opposes a
project within its boundaries that is bad for Maine taxpayers and ratepayers

8. This project is not ?nancially bene?cial to the Maine economy or its residents.

9. Independent PUC consultants have found that project application boasts in?ated
economic and ?nancial bene?ts. Similarly, our assessor, an instructor for Maine
Revenue Services, con?rms that CMP overin?ates the proposed valuations in their
presentations and that the lines are never assessed that high for tax purposes. Therefore,
the tax property increase for Maine towns/cities is far less that proposal
advertised.

10. Green and environmental agencies, as well as the Maine Legislatures
Committee of Environmental and Natural Resources and the Maine Legislature?s
Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology have stated valid and alarming concerns
on this project.

We see this project as bene?ting HydrouQuebec and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the
expense of Caratunk and the State of Maine. This should not be so. We ask that the DEP,
LUPC, PUC, and Massachusetts DPU not be pressured into allowing this project to go
forth. New Hampshire and Vermont protected their states from harmful and devious corporate
overreaches. The Town of Caratunk opposes this harmful project, retracts its prior letter of
support sent to the 83]) selection committee, and asks the DEP, LUPC, PUC, and DPU to
stand up for the Maine ratepayers, business owners and citizens by rejecting this proposed
transmission line. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments in these proceedings.

Sincerely,

gamer/L 
Elizabeth Caruso

Select Board Chair
On behalf of Neil Katz, Garret Booth