NH Delegation Statement on Release of Supplemental to Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Northern Pass Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with Representatives Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2) and Frank Guinta (NH-1), today released the following statement on the release of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Supplement to the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Northern Pass Transmission project:

“We are pleased that the DOE complied with our request to complete a detailed analysis of the updated preferred route for the proposed Northern Pass project and we look forward to reviewing the Supplement.  While we appreciate that the DOE has extended the public comment period and announced four public hearings, we continue to believe that the DOE must provide ample opportunity for Granite Staters to review and comment on the draft EIS, including this new supplement.”

In September, the delegation called on the DOE to complete a supplement to the draft EIS for the proposed Northern Pass Transmission project to analyze the newest “preferred route” proposal. The letter followed a request from several New Hampshire conservation groups that DOE postpone the previously scheduled public hearings and comment period deadlines until a thorough analysis of the newly proposed route is conducted.

The New Hampshire delegation has consistently pushed DOE to conduct an open and transparent process, so that residents in affected communities have ample time to review, understand, and provide feedback on the project.