Recently, the Business and Industry Association along with various IBEW representatives were made aware that the National Site Evaluation Committee will be extending the review process for the Northern Pass hydroelectric project to September 30, 2017.
Pushing the review back almost an entire year will likely set the projected completion date back into 2020. The idea of the Northern Pass project had its inception in 2011. This further delay will push this project’s forecasted completion date to almost a decade from the time initial discussions began.
“We are very disappointed they have chosen to delay making a decision on the Northern Pass for nine more months,” said Joe Casey, IBEW Business Manager for IBEW Local 490 in a prepared statement. “It is very disheartening to have to explain to the thousands of local workers who could be employed on this project that the State of New Hampshire has decided to delay final approval again.”
The delay also puts a burden on the IBEW 104 members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont who are hoping to work on this project, as well as delaying the substantial economic benefits that the Northern Pass will bring to communities and residents throughout New England.