Northern Pass by end of 2016?

Last week Eversource Energy said they expect to complete the permitting process for the Northern Pass Project by the end of 2016.

The Northern Pass is a proposed transmission line through New Hampshire connecting Canadian hydropower to New England.

The U.S. Department of Energy is expected to release a draft permit this spring, which includes route suggestions.  After that document is released, Eversource Energy can begin the state permitting process.

Northern Pass opponents maintain that the transmission line towers would sully views and hurt New Hampshire's tourism industry.  Many of those opponents want the company to bury the power lines.

Northern Pass officials have already agreed to bury eight miles of transmission lines.  At a presentation last week, William Quinlan, Eversource Energy’s president of New Hampshire electric operations, said, "We’re ready to make adjustments we need to."

New Hampshire's congressional delegation sent a letter to the Department of Energy in April asking for a longer commenting period for the public after the draft federal permit is released.

New Hampshire will have its own commenting period for the public as part of the state permitting process.