The Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a Request for Information for the development of transmission infrastructure and qualified renewable energy generation projects to transmit electricity from Northern Maine to the ISO New England system.
During its 2021 session, the Maine Legislature enacted an Act to "remove obstacles to the use of and to promote development of the substantial renewable energy resources in northern Maine."
The Act directs the Commission to approve a contract or contracts for selected transmission infrastructure and generation proposals. During its 2023 session, the Legislature made several amendments to the Act.
ISO-New England recently issued a request for proposals for transmission to enable the interconnection of at least 1,200 MW of onshore wind in Maine, “and we are seeking information about how that should inform our Northern Maine procurement,” said PUC Chair Philip Bartlett II. “We expect to initiate our procurement by the end of year.”
As detailed in the RFI, the Commission is requesting that interested entities provide information concerning and comment on both the Northern Maine Procurement and recent developments that will impact the Northern Maine Procurement on or before June 2, 2025, with supplemental comments permitted through September 30, 2025.
Given these recent developments, the Commission is also requesting that potential bidders submit either new or revised Indication of Interest forms on or before June 2, 2025.
