While its competitors are spending millions to block its path, Hydro-Quebec is fighting a tough battle to convince the citizens of Maine not to reject a major export project, in a referendum on November 2. Despite the promise of a reduction in greenhouse gases, several local environmental associations side with the opponents.
The Appalachian-Maine interconnection line must extend over 233 kilometers in Maine and carry 9.45 terawatt-hours annually to Massachusetts. The project would reduce greenhouse gases by 3 million metric tonnes, the equivalent of taking 700,000 cars off the road.
The climate argument, however, did not convince the main environmental associations of Maine, which oppose the project. Anya Fetcher, Director of Environment Maine, is concerned that the nearly 85-kilometer stretch that passes through the Northwoods Forest will disturb the flora and fauna.
“It’s a precious ecosystem and it’s an important place for the people of Main,” she explains. People live and visit Maine because of the beauty of its nature. We need to protect this sector. “
Mme Fetcher does not view hydropower as a source of green energy, especially due to the impact of dam construction. She would have liked the US $ billion invested in the project to be used instead for the deployment of solar and wind energy.
At Central Maine Power (CMP), which is building the interconnection line south of the border, solar and wind are not considered to be as reliable sources of energy as hydropower. Ten times as many trees would have to be felled to install a wind and solar farm producing as much energy.
Mme Fetcher is not alone in opposing the project. This is particularly the case with the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) and Sierra Club Maine. Their position is not unanimous in the environmental community, but opponents are much more mobilized. Organizations identified by several sources as being in favor of the project did not respond to our calls or told us that they had not taken an official position.
Opposition from his colleagues saddens Tom Rumpf, a retired environmentalist who worked for 21 years at the Nature Conservancy in Maine. The project is not perfect, he admits in an interview at his home. “There are sacrifices to be made, I’m aware of that, but overall I think it’s going to help decarbonize New England’s electricity. “
The line has obtained the support of regulatory authorities after an in-depth analysis of the environmental impacts, he argues. He believes that its effects on flora and fauna will be minimal. He gives as an example the fear of a warming of waterways which serves as habitat for trout. While it is true that the streams will warm below the line due to the lack of shade, these will cool down quickly, as they are fed by cold groundwater streams, he explains. he.
Disinformation campaign
The nuances of the project are however lost in this polarized campaign, deplores Mr. Rumpf. It must be said that the various lobbies spent a total of US $ 94 million to influence voters, according to documents filed with the ethics commissioner of Maine consulted by The Canadian Press. This is a record amount for a referendum in the state.
Officially, the groups in favor of the project spent almost three times as much money as the opponents. These figures may not give a complete picture, as the Stop the Corridor group is waging a legal battle with the commissioner to keep its donors anonymous.
A lot of disinformation is circulating in this campaign. In the field, we have heard more than once that Hydro-Québec is involved in coal and fossil fuels. The Crown corporation owns some 20 “small” thermal power stations to serve remote regions of the Far North. These plants are not connected to its network, explains spokesperson Lynn St-Laurent. The Bécancour gas plant, for its part, is only used during peak periods. “I also heard that we were in the coal, and I don’t know where it came from. “
For its part, the opposition’s largest financial contributor, NextEra, has been touted as a “big oil company” opposing hydropower. In fact, the company is one of the largest producers of wind and solar energy. Its thermal power station in Maine only operates infrequently, during backup periods. The Hydro-Quebec line would, however, compete with its nuclear power plant in New Hampshire, with less expensive electricity. The Florida-based company has spent more than US $ 20 million to encourage voters to block its Quebec competitor. Power producers Calpine and Vistra are also trying to harm the project and have spent US $ 2.7 million and US $ 2.8 million, respectively.
Opposed to the project, Richard Bennett, a Republican senator, deplores the “absurd” arguments put forward by the Mainers for Fair Laws group, which is betting on conservative voters’ fear of an omnipotent government. The group, indirectly funded to the tune of US $ 11.9 million by CMP, said a vote against the project would open a legal loophole allowing elected officials to remove firearms from their owners. An interpretation rejected by several independent jurists. “It is an insult to the intelligence of citizens,” protests the senator. The most eccentric arguments are circulating at the end of the campaign. “
The spokesperson for the group did not return our call. Note that Hydro-Québec did not contribute financially.
The US $ 21.9 million spent by Hydro-Quebec disturbs the senator. Along with his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives, Bennett voted overwhelmingly in favor of a law prohibiting foreign entities, such as Hydro-Quebec, from financing an election campaign in Maine. Democratic Governor Janet Mills vetoed it last June, saying it could prevent local companies with foreign shareholders from participating in the democratic process.
Hydro-Québec considers that its legally incurred expenses are justified to explain the merits of the project. “We are running an information campaign because of the outrageous disinformation circulating about our energy and the project,” explains Mme St-Laurent. Of course, we will defend the quality of our own energy. “