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The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Avangrid for a $425 million capacity contract for its Aroostook Renewable Project, a proposed clean energy transmission line to connect a substation in Haynesville to the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) power grid in Pittsfield with a 111-mile transmission line with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

As a former member of the Maine House of Representatives' Environment and Natural Resources Committee, I appreciate this investment and its support of the transition to clean energy. This award is great news for Maine's grid reliability and resiliency, and the development of this transmission line will address ongoing energy constraints in northern Maine. Expanding transmission infrastructure allows Maine to be better positioned to meet increasing electricity demand, while steering us toward energy independence.

Renewable resources fuel almost two-thirds of Maine's total electricity generation; transmission line development would provide Maine the ability to connect clean and affordable energy to the grid. Not only would this project have a significant impact on Maine's electric grid, but it would also create much-needed jobs, as well as critical investments into rural broadband. The transition to clean energy will be a major economic driver for Maine's businesses and support a more sustainable future for our state.