Feds release statement on environmental impact of Northern Pass

The Department of Energy released a long-awaited statement on the environmental impact of the Northern Pass, considering both the current proposal of overhead lines and with some buried sections as well as ten alternative plans. 

According to the report, the current proposal was the least costly and promised the highest energy delivery capacity, but was likely to have a negative impact on local wildlife, the tourism industry, and the values of neighboring properties. 

Full burial of the lines, called for by some advocacy groups opposed to the project, would cause the least visual impact on the landscape, but would be twice as expensive and could expose contaminated soil or groundwater. Full burial would, however, have the added benefit of creating roughly 1,500 jobs, nearly twice as many as are estimated to be needed to run the lines above ground, and would result in higher property tax revenues. 

The Department of Energy will allow a 90 day comment period on the statement, in addition to holding the following public hearings:

October 6, 2015: Concord, NH
October 7, 2015: Whitefield, NH
October 8, 2015: Plymouth, NH