NEW HAMPSHIRE DELEGATION: GIVE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON NORTHERN PASS
Lawmakers urge Department of Energy to relocate Northern Pass hearing
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – New Hampshire’s congressional delegation is urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to relocate proposed Northern Pass scoping hearings to give constituents and all stakeholders a reasonable opportunity to raise concerns and comment on the Northern Pass Transmission proposal.
In a letter to the Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) requested the proposed scoping hearing be moved from West Stewartstown to a larger venue in Colebrook.
“It has been brought to our attention that the current location for the hearing may not have the capacity required to accommodate what is likely to be a strong turnout at the hearing and poses some logistical challenges to attendees,” the delegation wrote. “In order to ensure the public has an opportunity to meaningfully comment, we respectfully request that you consider moving the hearing to a larger venue such as Colebrook Elementary School gymnasium in Colebrook, New Hampshire.”
Last month the delegation requested DOE hold additional public scoping hearings on the Northern Pass proposal as part of ongoing transparency efforts on the project.
The full text of the letter is below.
September 9, 2013
The Honorable Ernest Moniz, Secretary
United States Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-0800
Re: Scoping Hearing Change
Dear Secretary Moniz:
We write to you regarding today’s Federal Register listing of four proposed scoping hearings on Northern Pass Transmission, LLC’s amended application to the Department of Energy (DOE) for a presidential permit to bring 1200-MW of hydropower to the New England market. The announced hearing scheduled for September 26, 2013 in West Stewartstown, New Hampshire, has raised concerns among our constituents. It has been brought to our attention that the current location for the hearing may not have the capacity required to accommodate what is likely to be a strong turnout at the hearing and poses some logistical challenges to attendees.
As you know, this issue has been widely followed around the state and scoping hearings held in 2011 were very well attended. In order to ensure the public has an opportunity to meaningfully comment, we respectfully request that you consider moving the hearing to a larger venue such as Colebrook Elementary School gymnasium in Colebrook, New Hampshire. The space can accommodate a larger crowd and has ample parking available in close proximity to the school.
We appreciate DOE’s continued willingness to work with our offices throughout the application process to ensure it is fair, transparent, and allows all stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions and make their voices heard.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Shaheen Kelly Ayotte
United States Senator United States Senator
Carol Shea-Porter Ann McLane Kuster
Member of Congress Member of Congress
