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July 12. 2012 2:37AM
Quebec gets another earful on Northern Pass
LANDAFF — Another North Country town has fired a verbal missive over the Canadian border about the Northern Pass.
Landaff selectmen have sent their own letter to the premier of Quebec, with copies to its crown-owned company, Hydro-Quebec, saying they do not want the $1.1 billion hydro transmission project as it is proposed.
The Hydro-Quebec and Northeast Utilities project would go through 180 miles of the state — from the Canadian border to Deerfield.
Last month, Stewartstown selectmen sent a letter asking the government’s agent to cease the purchasing of town land for the project. It noted that town meeting voters in March opposed any new above-ground transmission lines.
While proponents contend the project would bring jobs and lower-priced electricity, opponents describe Northern Pass as a for-profit venture that would ruin the landscape and lower property values.
Landaff Selectmen Chairman Errol S. Peters and Selectmen Michael Ransmeier and Valerie Kiber-Roy wrote: “This is to advise you and, by copy, Hydro-Quebec’s management that the Northern Pass Project was unanimously rejected by the voters of the town of Landaff at our 2011 Town Meeting. It would despoil our environment and confer little or no benefit on the citizens of New Hampshire. If your province wishes to mortgage its wild and pristine environment to the tycoons of massive hydro-development, that is your people’s concern, but you should find a way to do it that does not trample on your neighbor’s rights and values.”
It adds, “Hydro-Quebec’s stated policy on its website provides, in relevant part, that its projects must be “favorably received” by the local host communities,’ where they are to be built ... Please be advised that the Northern Pass project is not favorably received in this community and never will be. We hereby request that you exercise your best efforts to bring the project to a halt.”
The transmission lines are currently slated to go through a right-of-way in Easton, which abuts Landaff.
Karen Bean, administrator to the selectmen, said Wednesday that Landaff has not heard back from Premier Jean Charest or his staff.
Currently, the project’s application for a federal permit is on hold while the developers search for a 40-mile route to run the line from the border to Groveton, where there currently is no right-of-way. A right-of-way exists from Groveton to Deerfield.
Paula Tracy may be reached at ptracy@unionleader.com.
Landaff selectmen have sent their own letter to the premier of Quebec, with copies to its crown-owned company, Hydro-Quebec, saying they do not want the $1.1 billion hydro transmission project as it is proposed.
The Hydro-Quebec and Northeast Utilities project would go through 180 miles of the state — from the Canadian border to Deerfield.
Last month, Stewartstown selectmen sent a letter asking the government’s agent to cease the purchasing of town land for the project. It noted that town meeting voters in March opposed any new above-ground transmission lines.
While proponents contend the project would bring jobs and lower-priced electricity, opponents describe Northern Pass as a for-profit venture that would ruin the landscape and lower property values.
Landaff Selectmen Chairman Errol S. Peters and Selectmen Michael Ransmeier and Valerie Kiber-Roy wrote: “This is to advise you and, by copy, Hydro-Quebec’s management that the Northern Pass Project was unanimously rejected by the voters of the town of Landaff at our 2011 Town Meeting. It would despoil our environment and confer little or no benefit on the citizens of New Hampshire. If your province wishes to mortgage its wild and pristine environment to the tycoons of massive hydro-development, that is your people’s concern, but you should find a way to do it that does not trample on your neighbor’s rights and values.”
It adds, “Hydro-Quebec’s stated policy on its website provides, in relevant part, that its projects must be “favorably received” by the local host communities,’ where they are to be built ... Please be advised that the Northern Pass project is not favorably received in this community and never will be. We hereby request that you exercise your best efforts to bring the project to a halt.”
The transmission lines are currently slated to go through a right-of-way in Easton, which abuts Landaff.
Karen Bean, administrator to the selectmen, said Wednesday that Landaff has not heard back from Premier Jean Charest or his staff.
Currently, the project’s application for a federal permit is on hold while the developers search for a 40-mile route to run the line from the border to Groveton, where there currently is no right-of-way. A right-of-way exists from Groveton to Deerfield.
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Paula Tracy may be reached at ptracy@unionleader.com.