NextEra Energy Resources, LLC v. Maine Public Utilities Commission

Filing Date: 2019
Case Categories:
Principal Laws:
Maine Public Utilities Law, Maine Solar Energy Act, Maine Wind Energy Act
Description: Challenge to certificate of public convenience and necessity for the New England Clean Energy Connect project.
  • NextEra Energy Resources, LLC v. Maine Public Utilities Commission
    Docket number(s): PUC-19-182
    Court/Admin Entity: Me.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    03/17/2020 Opinion Download Order of the Public Utilities Commission affirmed. Maine High Court Upheld Approval for Transmission Line from Québec. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC’s) issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the New England Clean Energy Connect project, a transmission line proposed to run from the Maine-Québec border to Lewiston, Maine. The court rejected arguments that the PUC misconstrued and misapplied statutory requirements that it make specific findings regarding the “public need” for the project. As part of the public need analysis, the court found the PUC had appropriately considered state renewable energy generation goals, which included reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The PUC found that the project would result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, a finding supported by the record.