Governor Hassan's Statement on Northern Pass Announcement

Statement

"From the very beginning, I, along with many other Granite Staters, have pushed Northern Pass officials to listen to our concerns. I have made clear that if Northern Pass is to move forward, it must propose a project that protects our scenic views and treasured natural resources while also reducing energy costs for our families and businesses. New Hampshire deserves the latest technologies in order to protect what we all love about our state, and any project must provide real benefits to the people of the Granite State. I am encouraged that Northern Pass officials have listened and are taking meaningful steps forward in attempting to address those concerns. That process of listening -- and making further improvements -- must continue.

"This route is an improvement over the previous proposal. By proposing to bury more than 60 miles of transmission lines, this new proposal would protect the historic and scenic views of the White Mountain National Forest and other important areas, which are part of to our identity as a people and integral to our high quality of life and vibrant tourism industry. By committing to hire New Hampshire workers first, to dedicate significant resources to support economic development efforts in impacted communities, and to upgrade the North Country's energy infrastructure, this proposal also provides tangible benefits to impacted communities as well as energy cost savings for New Hampshire businesses and residents.

"As with any energy project, Northern Pass must go through extensive federal and state review processes. I again encourage the federal government to continue to listen to public input about the project and for the company to continue to reach out to New Hampshire citizens and continue to work to address their concerns. I am confident that New Hampshire's Site Evaluation Committee will undertake a rigorous review process that provides significant opportunities for all voices to be fully heard."

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