Eversource and Hydro-Québec selected for 9.45 TWh Massachusetts energy contract

Massachusetts utilities has announced that they have selected a Eversource Energy’s subsidiary Northern Pass Transmission (NPT) and Hydro-Québec joint proposal to supply 9.45 TWh of firm clean energy, which will help the state enhance reliability and contribute to its greenhouse gas reduction requirements. 

The Northern Pass Transmission project was selected to deliver 100 % hydropower by the Massachusetts evaluation team after a competitive solicitation process. The next steps are to negotiate long-term contracts and obtain regulatory approval of agreements to ensure the delivery of this large volume of power for 20 years. 

The project involves the construction of a 1090 MW transmission line about 79 km long. This line will be extended into the U.S.A. and will connect Des Cantons substation in Val-Joli to Franklin substation in southern New Hampshire. Hydro-Québec will invest over C$680 million for the Québec portion of the transmission project, consisting of construction of a new transmission line and equipment additions in the Des Cantons substation. 

The following steps include approval of agreements to ensure the delivery of this large quantity of energy over the next 20 years. The firms expect to start work on the Québec – New Hampshire interconnection in the fall of 2018. 

Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec, stated:

“We are pleased and proud to have been selected. This is a major milestone in the energy transition underway in the Northeast, one that confirms the high value of Hydro-Québec’s clean and reliable energy. We’re confident negotiations with Massachusetts will lead to an agreement that is beneficial to all parties.” 

Eversource President and CEO Jim Judge, commented:

“We are pleased with the decision announced today, and appreciate the thorough review by the Massachusetts’ bid evaluation team. The clean, affordable power flowing over Northern Pass into the New England grid in 2020 will provide customers in the Commonwealth and throughout the region with much-needed energy price relief and emissions reductions and will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to the region for years to come.”