Maine has chased utility-scale wind in its northern counties for almost 20 years, with little to show for it. On Tuesday, state utility regulators took a concrete step forward by selecting an 800-megawatt wind farm proposal and a separate 1.2-gigawatt transmission line plan, according to Canary Media.
The two projects are meant to work together: the transmission line would carry power from the wind farm to load centers, addressing a key obstacle that has stymied earlier efforts. The regulator's choice does not guarantee construction, but it marks the first time in years that the state's long-running wind vision has advanced this far.
Canary Media's report frames the decision as a significant milestone, though it notes that the projects still face permitting, financing, and other risks. The source does not mention any competing proposals or dissenting opinions from the regulators, so the outcome appears to have been a clear selection rather than a contested vote.