BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 4, 2020
A controversial $1 billion hydropower project won its fourth key permit Wednesday from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project’s sponsor said. Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power, said the approval clears the way for construction on its proposed New England Clean Energy Connect project to start in the coming weeks. It still needs a presidential permit to cross the Canadian border and potentially local permits. The project has drawn criticism. Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Army Corps in late October after its environmental assessment found the corridor would have no significant environmental impacts. Additionally, volunteers collected more than 23,000 signatures at 125 polling locations yesterday in an effort at a second referendum bid aimed at pressuring lawmakers to overturn the project.