A Maine group is seeking to reverse state regulators’ approval of a $333 million wind energy partnership between Emera Maine’s parent company and Boston-based First Wind.
The Bangor Daily News reported that Houlton Water Co., a municipally owned utility, and a group of large energy consumers filed an appeal in Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the July ruling by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Houlton Water Co. said that the PUC’s approval of the First Wind-Emera venture, which would help fund a number of Maine wind projects, is at odds with the state’s law on power production regulation, which requires utilities to operate either as power transmission companies or power generators, but not both.
The long-sought joint venture, which has already been challenged in Maine’s top court once, will involve Northeast Wind, a subsidiary of Emera Maine’s parent company, investing $333 in the partnership, giving it 49% ownership in JV Holdco, which holds ownership of various First Wind projects. It will give a boost to First Wind projects in Oakfield, Hancock and Bingham.
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