"PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s environmental commissioner suspended a permit Tuesday for a $1 billion electricity transmission line, delivering another blow to the project aimed at bringing Canadian hydropower to New England.

Commissioner Melanie Loyzim’s decision comes after Maine residents rebuked the project in a referendum and the developers suspended construction under pressure from the governor.

But the suspension would be lifted if the project’s developers win a legal challenge, Loyzim wrote.

The latest developments follow years of debate over New England Clean Energy Connect, a project aimed at serving as a conduit for up to 1,200 megawatts of hydropower to reach the regional power grid."

Patrick Whittle and David Sharp report for the Associated Press November 24, 2021. [2]