FYI: Northern Pass High Voltage Transmission Project

[Niltiac]

For all those against the Northern Pass- you may want to consider making a contribution here.

Save the Balsams

I believe this has been posted in other places but I wanted to post it again since the deadline is looming- January 15th.

We are getting really close to actually obtaining the goal!!!! Everyone can help make a difference and every little bit counts!

 

[MichaelJ]

Forest Society makes Balsams right-of-way deal final

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120119/NEWS02/701199977

PITTSBURG — The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests has completed its transaction with the Tillotson Corp. to conserve some 5,800 acres of land surrounding the historic Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch.

As part of the transaction, the forest society acquired a deeded transmission line right-of-way that was seen as potentially part of the controversial Northern Pass proposal. By acquiring both the conservation restrictions and the power line right-of-way, the forest society — according to Difley — effectively removed the threat that Northern Pass would be able to cross the conserved acreage without eminent domain.

 

[LRiz]

Some great news!

The NH State Senate has voted and HB 648 (with the important Bragdon/Forrester amendment) passed by an overwhelming majority - 23 to 1!

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120125/NEWS06/701259940

This is a tremendous victory and brings us one huge step closer to preserving our property rights and defending Article 12-a:

"A person's property cannot be taken by eminent domain if the purpose is for private development or other private use of property."

 

[peakbagger]

For those following the eminent domain bill

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ne...se_passes_eminent_domain_bill_without_debate/

 

[peakbagger]

The governor did sign the eminent domain bill. It has put significant restrictions on the use of eminent domain to build the project. It does not "kill" Northern Pass but the law basically forces it onto existing right of ways or onto land sold by willing sellers. Given the potential profits I expect that the project will not go away but it may delay things a bit.

 

[arm]

seeking the current

catch a free screening of the documentary film about Northern Pass in local venues this week ... "Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the director Nicolas Boisclair and experts on energy and environmental issues."

http://www.clf.org/northern-pass/seeking-the-current

Tuesday, March 13, 7:00 pm – New Hampshire Audubon Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH. Admission is Free, with $5 suggested donation.

Wednesday, March 14, 7:00 pm – Howe Library, 13 South Street, Hanover, NH. Admission is Free.

Friday, March 16, 7:00 pm – Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main Street, Plymouth, NH. Regular admission fee.

Thursday, April 5, 7:00 pm – Putnam Theater, Keene State College, Keene, NH. Admission is Free.

New Hampshire’s leading environmental organizations will host a series of free screenings of the award-winning documentary film, Seeking the Current, at locations throughout the state, beginning in March. Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the director Nicolas Boisclair and experts on energy and environmental issues. The feature-length documentary provides a serious, unsparing look at Canadian power giant Hydro-Québec and its development of large-scale hydroelectric power facilities. Seeking the Current recounts the voyage of the filmmakers Boisclair and Alexis de Gheldere, who canoed the entire 500 km course of the pristine Romaine River one year before Hydro-Québec started construction on a new $8 billion complex of hydropower projects there. Along the way, the filmmakers examine the history and economics of hydropower in Québec and explore the renewable alternatives to new hydropower projects.

 

[Red Oak]

wmur article.... http://www.wmur.com/news/money/Stud...ues/-/9857662/14791084/-/p3vnjfz/-/index.html
Looks like a pork barrel project maybe? Let the readers decide....Makes one wonder,who is really paying in the end for this "project".

 

[Raven]

Some recent news regarding the Northern Pass:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2012/08/20/forest_society_seeks_25m_to_stymie_northern_pass/

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120820/NEWS/708209877/-1/services

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/346402/wall-street-skeptical-about-northern-pass?SESS54f75e599fb672edda8ef48550868512=bing

WMUR Video from 8/20 http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Conservation-group-seeks-2-5M-to-stymie-Northern-Pass/-/9857858/16198446/-/13aak1f/-/index.html

I find the third article particularly encouraging as Wall Street now has apparently lost some confidence in the project. It would seem the constant fighting back and delays are hurting them. I won't hide my feelings. Good news.

I also think it is great that the unintended consequence of the Northern Pass project may be that a lot more land in NH is conserved.

 

[Raven]

Summary of 4 land parcels being sought by Forest Society to block Northern Pass

The Forest Society seeks 2.5 million by October 31, 2012 to complete the purchase of these properties key to the intended Northern Pass route. Purchase and Sales for all properties have been completed in an agreement between the land owners and the Forest Society which would put permanent conservation easements on the lands regardless of who owns the parcels.

Some highlights: these 4 parcels variously connect the Nash Stream Forest and the Balsams, hold part of the Cohos Trail, and contain a major snowmobile trail connecting Colebrook and Pittsburg among other features (see below)

The following is from the Forest Society website press release of 8/20/12: https://www.forestsociety.org/news/press-release.asp?id=611

"The Coos County parcels involved in the Trees Not Towers campaign to date include three in Stewartstown and one in Columbia. The largest parcel includes 967 acres owned by the McAllaster family, who have been on the land for generations. They operate a dairy farm and rely on the land for hay and pasture. The McAllaster Farm is also a certified Tree Farm, and includes a maple sugaring operation. A major snowmobile trail managed by the Colebrook Ski-Bees crosses the McAllaster land, providing access to between Colebrook, Coleman State Park and Pittsburg. The Cohos hiking trail also makes use of the McAllaster property. The height of land on Mudgett Mountain provides spectacular views west into Vermont, south to the White Mountains and east to Dixville Notch, Table Rock and the Balsams. In January 2012, the Forest Society successfully worked to conserve the Balsams landscape.

Immediately west of the McAllaster Farm is more than 500 acres owned by Green Acre Woodlands. The parcel sits high upon North Hill, offering 360-degree views. Two smaller parcels owned by Lynne Placey of Stewartstown are key to disrupting the path Northern Pass is attempting to use and protect the flank of Holden Hill. The fourth parcel, 300 acres owned by the Lewis family, links the southern boundary of the Balsams property to the northern boundary of Nash Stream State Forest.

“Simply prohibiting towers, power lines and a permanently cleared right-of-way on these particular lands make any one of these conservation projects worthwhile,” said Difley. “The fact that their protection disrupts what is clearly Northern Pass’s intended route makes them doubly important.”

The purchase-and-sale agreements give the Forest Society a window of opportunity to raise the $2.5 million necessary to close the transactions. The deadline to raise the needed funds is October 31, 2012."

 

[Raven]

NH Senate Links for 2012 Election

Regardless of your feelings on the issue, the makeup of the NH Senate over the next few years is going to have an impact on future decisions with this project. The following links may be of interest:

Current NH State Senators (24 total) can be found here: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/New_Hampshire_State_Senate#List_of_current_members

All 24 seats are up for election on 11/6/2012 with primaries for both parties on 9/11/12. Those running can be found here: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/New_Hampshire_State_Senate_elections,_2012

NH Senatorial Districts to find your district since redistricting: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/images/sb201.jpeg

Contact information for current NH State Legislature members is found here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/members/wml.aspx

Let them know how you feel. Your voice, your vote, and your support can make a difference. I will be providing all three (minimally) and this project is at the top of my concerns as I know it is to many who read and post on this forum.

 

[Raven]

Good video of 4 properties of interest for Northern Pass

Video showing the four properties under agreement with Forest Society and interview with owner of the McAllister Farm, the largest parcel of the four and his opinion on Northern Pass (who would also like to buy the property)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvwvRUsgpbI&feature=player_detailpage

 

[Raven]

Important meeting: Northern Pass Seeking Special Permit to Cross the WMNF and AT

From the site:

"Northern Pass is seeking a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service to cross the National Scenic Appalachian Trail and a ten-mile route through the WMNF that includes Easton. The developers do not have an existing right of way through the national forest."

There's a picture from South Kinsman showing where these 135' ish towers would go if this is approved.

Meeting on 9/23 in Easton Town Hall from 3-5

http://burynorthernpass.blogspot.com/2012/09/northern-pass-and-white-mountain.html

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm a little confused - isn't that (Bog Pond) where the existing power line corridor goes? I thought this was one of the few places where there was no option to stop them because they already had the right of way?

 

[peakbagger]

There is an existing right of way in that location occupied by an lower voltage AC transmission line that connects northern NH with southern NH. The current ROW is apparently not wide enough to contain the proposed high voltage DC line. Unlike the existing line that apparently was permitted as it was for the "public good" and essential for the adjoining NH towns, the new line is strictly intended to export power to southern new england. Therefore they apparently have to permit the new line as separate entity.

Generally when a project is proposed strictly for commercial purposes on public land, the standards they are required to meet for approval are much higher than for a public good project. At a minimum I think they have to prove that there is no other reasonable alternative and the definition of "reasonable" is quite high. Barring congressional action, I expect litigation will force it to the highest possible standard even if the FS supervisor tries to go to a lower standard. Given that it is in the AT corridor it probably needs an even higher standard although down south there have been a few major power lines built over the AT (but I am not aware of any in a national forest).

A possible compromise might be burying both the old and the new line under the existing right of way which in theory would improve the view shed from what it is today, but as the developer has stated that HVDC underground is not commerically proven, I dont expect this will come up. Even with buried lines the very obvious strip cut visible from 93 would still be present.

 

[Raven]

There is an existing right of way in that location occupied by an lower voltage AC transmission line that connects northern NH with southern NH. The current ROW is apparently not wide enough to contain the proposed high voltage DC line.

Northern Pass literature quotes 150 foot ROW. Many believe it will be larger but this is a minimum. That would probably necessitate widening the existing ROW but I am not sure of the current width.

 

[Waumbek]

SUP v. ROW

For the 10-mile route through the WMNF that Northern Pass is proposing, it wants to co-locate in the corridor that PSNH uses for its 115kV line (X-178).

PSNH has no right-of-way, that is, no land rights or underlying easement, for seven of the ten miles in that corridor. It exists on those seven miles on a renewable, revocable Special Use Permit. The SUP is for a 150' width.

PSNH does have an underlying easement, purchased in 1948 prior to USFS acquisition of the tract in 1979, in the Bog Pond tract.

But the A.T. jurisdiction extends beyond the Bog Pond tract in which PSNH has the underlying easement. The A.T. is protected for .5 miles on either side of the treadway.

Nothern Pass would have to meet USFS Management Area 8.3 criteria of "overriding public need" to cross the A.T.

 

[griffin]

fwiw - the AMC has released a study it commissioned on the visual impact of the proposed project.

You can read their summary here:
http://www.outdoors.org/about/newsroom/press/2012/northern-pass-project-impact.cfm

The full report is here:
http://www.outdoors.org/pdf/upload/NorthernPassVisualImpactAssessmentFinalReport.pdf

 

[Mike P.]

In a related topic:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Federal_parks_officials_OK_NJ-Penn_power_line.html

Federal parks officials OK NJ-Penn. power line
Tuesday October 2, 2012, 1:38 PM
Associated Press
Print | E-mail TRENTON — Federal parks officials have given final approval for a new high-voltage power line that will run through the recreation area spanning Pennsylvania and New Jersey on either side of the Delaware River....

 

[Stan]

fwiw - the AMC has released a study it commissioned on the visual impact of the proposed project.

You can read their summary here:
http://www.outdoors.org/about/newsroom/press/2012/northern-pass-project-impact.cfm

The full report is here:
http://www.outdoors.org/pdf/upload/NorthernPassVisualImpactAssessmentFinalReport.pdf

Thanks for those links. As with windpower, I think viewsheds are an important element of siting decisions. We cannot let our insatiable appetite for energy overwhelm aesthetic considerations ... aesthetic considerations have significant impact on tourism as well and that is an important part of the economy in some areas.

There has got to be a better way to get that clean renewable hydropower from Quebec down where it is needed.

I'm wondering about the feasibility of routing part of this transmission under water. High voltage technology is far different from communications lines but it would seem there has to be another way to do this.

 

[rocket21]

Where was the AMC's visual impact study when this went through?

The view from the summit ledges of Rattlesnake Mountain in the WMNF

- 24 mountaintop towers are being built, reaching about 400 feet at their highest point. Dramatically taller than the Northern Pass towers, and due to being mountain top in nature, visible from miles away.
- Each wind tower has a footing that's equivalent to filling a large house with concrete.
- Each wind tower has an expected lifespan of 25 years.
- 62,000 feet of new roads, I believe about 18 feet wide.