Northern Pass Transmission

Land conservation efforts in the Northern Forest are threatened by the proposed Northern Pass Transmission Line project, which would bring Canadian hydropower into New England.

The high-tension Northern Pass Transmission Line is proposed through numerous conservation lands in the Northern Forest, including the White Mountain National Forest and the Silvo O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge.

These are sensitive ecosystems within the Northern Forest that provide natural resources and pristine habitat for wildlife.

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Northern Forest

Making sure renewable energy is done right in the Northern Forest

Support for renewable energy means guiding projects to the right places and away from sensitive wildlands in the Northern Forest and elsewhere. To create a sustainable clean energy future, we have to minimize the impacts of renewable energy projects on sensitive wildlands and wildlife.

While the proposed Northern Pass transmission line would bring up to 1,200 megawatts of hydroelectric power to homes and businesses in the New England area, it also would impact communities, forests and wildlife — particularly in northern New Hampshire.

There isn’t clear evidence that Northern Pass is the best solution for New England. The developer’s goal is to sell inexpensive Canadian hydropower to New England, but they haven’t proven that the project is needed to meet energy demands in the region. What’s more, hydropower adds to global warming. So, impacts from the related construction of dams in Canada should be accounted for in the environmental review for this project.

Despite the lack of analysis, Northern Pass has applied to the United States Department of Energy for a Presidential permit to construct, operate, maintain and connect an electric transmission line across the United States border with Canada. Further analysis is needed before this project is allowed to impact sensitive wildlands.

Helpful links

Related Content

Read about renewable energy in the Northern Forest
Protecting wilderness lands and wildlife habitat is a priority in New England’s Northern Forest. Efforts are underway to support energy conservation initiatives and responsible renewable energy development.
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Where are smart places for renewable energy?
When we work to guide renewable energy development to the most appropriate places, we can avoid damaging sensitive wildlands and wildlife habitat.
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Learn how we help reduce impacts on wildlands
The Wilderness Society works to ensure that renewable energy development on public lands occurs in the right places and in the right ways.
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At a Glance

Some key take-aways from this article include:

  • The proposed Northern Pass transmission project will impact sensitive wildlands and wildlife in the Northern Forest.
  • More analysis is needed on whether this project is critical to New England’s energy future.
  • To create a sustainable clean energy future, we have to minimize the impacts of renewable energy projects on sensitive wildlands and wildlife.