Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about The Northern Pass, or if you’d like to verify any information you’ve received about the project from other sources, please contact us!
You can also view our list of the most commonly asked questions we’ve received about the project through The Northern Pass hotline and at our meetings with local residents and communities. These questions and answers are arranged by category.
Need for Project
The region’s energy supply, which New Hampshire draws from, is becoming less diverse and more susceptible to price volatility and reliability risks. Looking forward, ISO New England is concerned about the region’s growing dependence on natural gas as the primary fuel used to generate electricity, the potential retirement of several of its existing power plants, its diminishing fuel diversity, and the performance of its energy resources under stressed operating conditions. As part of the region’s highly integrated energy system, New Hampshire is not immune from these risks, and will benefit from the inclusion of reliable, competitively priced hydropower from The Northern Pass in the regional power pool. Read more about the need for this project to improve the region’s energy supply.
Transmission Structures
The anticipated height of most Northern Pass transmission structures is as follows:
- For the new right of way in the North Country, from the Canadian border to Groveton, NH, the most common structure height will be 85 to 90 feet.
- In the existing right of way between Groveton and Franklin, which currently contains an existing transmission line, the most common structure height will be 80 to 95 feet.
- In the existing right of way between Franklin and Deerfield, which currently contains an existing transmission line, the most common structure height will be somewhat taller, between 90 and 110 feet, because the right of way here is slightly narrower than in other sections of the route.
Taller structures are used along the route when necessary:
- To span larger rivers and roadways;
- To cross over other lines and structures;
- To account for changes in terrain being spanned by the line, and to maintain the clearances required by the National Electrical Safety Code between the transmission wires and the ground or other nearby objects; and
- In select areas in the existing rights of way where the right of way is constrained and cannot be expanded to a width necessary to allow for the use of shorter structures.
The National Electrical Safety Code requires a minimum height based upon the line’s operating voltage. As a general rule, the wider a right of way the shorter a structure needed—to a point. Today, the majority of the structures in the existing rights of way that will be shared by The Northern Pass are 45 to 75 feet tall. The majority of these existing lines operate at a voltage of 115 kV AC. The Northern Pass will construct lines that operate at voltages of +/-300 kV DC and 345 kV AC. These higher voltages require greater height and separation for safety.
Several different structure types and configurations will be used to construct The Northern Pass transmission line. To the greatest extent feasible, Northern Pass representatives will work to meet landowner preferences for structure locations on their property. Learn more about structures, views, and visual impacts.
The majority of the project’s preliminary preferred route uses transmission rights of way (ROW) that already exist. For the section of the route from the Canadian border to Lost Nation substation in Groveton, NH, new ROW will need to be developed. These ROW are expected to be about 150 feet wide (50 yards). A 150-foot ROW allows for the use of shorter structures for the direct current transmission line (approximately 85 to 90 feet tall).
Proposed Route
No. As currently proposed, the project’s preferred route is located entirely in existing transmission rights of way, where transmission lines exist today, with the following exceptions:
- For the section of the route between Groveton, NH, and the Canadian border, where no transmission rights of way exist today, about 40 miles of new right of way are needed.
- New rights of way may also be needed for an eight mile section of the route through Concord, Chichester, and Pembroke. The project has expressed its strong desire to use the existing right of way adjacent to the Concord Municipal Airport; and has asked the Federal Aviation Administration for its approval to utilize this route.
Although putting the line underground would limit visual impacts, this option is not practical because:
- It would require the use of heavy equipment that could not practically be moved to the remote locations along significant portions of the route;
- It would involve much more extensive and permanent disruption of the environment;
- It is not practicable given the terrain and geology along significant portions of the route;
- It would have a prohibitive cost.
In addition, to avoid placing too much tension on the underground cable and to maintain an acceptable cable bending radius, installing such a line may require drilling or tunneling through areas of steep grades in order to keep the underground cable sufficiently flat and level. An underground cable in such terrain would also present much greater maintenance challenges, thus creating the risk that, in the event of trouble on the line, the line would be out of service for an extended period to allow for diagnosis and repair.
Putting parts of the line underground would require a “transition station” at each location where the line would connect the overhead and underground portions of the line. A transition station is similar to a substation, requires below-grade construction, is surrounded by a chain link fence, and occupies an area roughly the size of four tennis courts or one football field. Because this option has all of the problems associated with underground transmission, and would also require such a facility at each transition point, it does not meet the objective of minimizing impact in sensitive areas and is not a practical alternative.
Unlike Lake Champlain and the portions of the Hudson River that the Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. (CHPEI) project is designed to traverse, the Connecticut River is not navigable for anything but shallow draft vessels above Enfield, Connecticut. Because of the size and installation requirements for underwater cable, equipment that will make it feasible for CHPEI to develop an underwater line could not be used in the New Hampshire portion of the Connecticut River for The Northern Pass project.
Who Will Own The Line
All of the transmission lines and facilities in New Hampshire will be owned by Northern Pass Transmission LLC—a New Hampshire company that is owned by New England-based Northeast Utilities and NSTAR. These facilities will be operated by ISO New England, the independent operator of New England’s power grid.
NH Energy Benefits
Yes. Like every energy source in the region, the energy transmitted via The Northern Pass will be delivered into the New England “power pool” that supplies all New England electricity customers—including those in New Hampshire.
New England has one common, integrated electric system, which is why power lines do not stop at state borders. All generating units in the region (more than 300 of them) are tied into this regional electric grid, and the power they produce flows without boundaries throughout the region.
Just like the energy produced at a biomass plant in Coös County, or a natural gas plant in southern New Hampshire, the energy from The Northern Pass will be part of the regional energy supply that serves all electricity customers in our state and our region.
Yes. A study by Charles River Associates on the impact of The Northern Pass estimates a wholesale cost reduction of between $200 – $325 million a year in New England, including a cost reduction in New Hampshire of $25 – $30 million a year.
In addition to these overall savings to New Hampshire and the New England region, PSNH is negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hydro Renewable Energy Inc. (a U.S. corporation that is owned by Hydro-Québec) to directly purchase a specific portion of the energy at an economic price so that New Hampshire customers can receive more benefits as a result of this project. The details of the PPA will be made public once it is finalized.
Jobs
Our commitment is to hire local labor first. Northern Pass Transmission is developing a labor agreement with the NH Building and Trades Association, which will provide employment certainty for workers and will apply to both represented and non-represented employees. In addition, many New Hampshire residents, businesses, and workers will benefit from the project’s purchase of construction materials (such as gravel and concrete), the spending power of those employed by the project, the payment of property taxes associated with the project’s assets (which support government and school services and jobs), and use of local goods and services during the three-year construction period. Read more about the job opportunities associated with the project.
Tax Benefits
Yes. The investment of $1.1 billion in The Northern Pass project in New Hampshire will result in a significant increase in local, county, and State property tax payments. View a breakdown of the likely fiscal impact by community.
A recent study that was published in a peer reviewed journal analyzed whether high-voltage transmission lines affected the value of residential properties located in two New England states. The study showed that:
- There is no evidence of systematic effects on residential real estate values due to visibility or proximity of high-voltage transmission lines.
- The value of residential properties on which a transmission easement is actually located is reduced by a small amount as compared to residential properties on which there is no transmission easement. This small reduction likely reflects the value of the underlying prior sale of the easement rights to a utility.
- The data does not support a hypothesis that higher value properties are more susceptible to devaluation due to the visibility or proximity of transmission lines.
The study was commissioned by Northeast Utilities, and conducted in 2008 by James Chalmers Ph.D., an economist and real estate appraiser, and Frank Voorvaart, Ph.D., an economist and vice president of The Analysis Group. The report, titled High-Voltage Transmission Lines: Proximity, Visibility and Encumbrance Effects, was featured in the summer 2009 issue of The Appraisal Journal and was extensively peer reviewed prior to its publication.
While this study is useful in setting some expectation around the issue, no comprehensive study on this topic has been conducted recently in New Hampshire. An in depth, independent study is now being conducted by a local, reputable expert to provide landowners with more detailed and specific information on this issue. We will share the results of this study as soon as they are available.
Hydro-Québec
It depends on the environment. In colder climates with sparse boreal vegetation (such as northern Québec), studies have shown that methane emissions associated with hydroelectric reservoirs are very low, and are comparable to neighboring, naturally occurring water bodies. In fact, hydroelectric power ranks among the best power generating options in northern countries, particularly in the context of climate change. In contrast, hydroelectric reservoirs in warm climates with dense, tropical vegetation (such as Brazil or India) can produce large amounts of methane.
No. Hydro-Québec does not need to build any new generation to support this project. It already has the production capacity to make use of the new transmission line.
The construction of most of these hydroelectric facilities took place decades ago, and did not result in the flooding of any villages. One native village was moved as a result of the village residents’ own decision to move (determined by a vote of the village). In recent times, hydroelectric development in the region has been done in coordination with and with the approval of native communities. Learn more about HQ’s partnership with host communities on the current Eastmain 1- A/Sarcelle/Rupert Project at www.hydroquebec.com/rupert/en/acceptation.html.
Just about. 98 percent of Hydro-Québec’s power is generated by hydroelectric facilities. The remaining 2 percent is generated by a mix of wind, thermal, and nuclear power facilities.
Environmental Impact
It depends on the environment. In colder climates with sparse boreal vegetation (such as northern Québec), studies have shown that methane emissions associated with hydroelectric reservoirs are very low, and are comparable to neighboring, naturally occurring water bodies. In fact, hydroelectric power ranks among the best power generating options in northern countries, particularly in the context of climate change. In contrast, hydroelectric reservoirs in warm climates with dense, tropical vegetation (such as Brazil or India) can produce large amounts of methane.
No. We can have both, as has been the case in our state since it was first electrified decades ago. The rigorous processes that will review this project will ensure that both our long-term energy needs and the ecological health of our environment are treated as high priorities for our state. These review processes will involve the U.S. Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the NH Division of Forests and Lands, and many other State and Federal agencies.
No. PSNH has a long-standing commitment not to use any herbicides or chemicals to clear its rights of way. Vegetation is managed through mowing, trimming, and tree removal, as necessary. These same vegetation management practices will be used on any Northern Pass rights of way. No herbicides or chemicals will be used.
Electric and Magnetic Fields
A lot of research has been done on this subject, including studies specific to the static electric and magnetic fields (EMF) produced by direct current (DC) transmission lines. Scientists have not found any adverse effects of static fields from DC transmission lines on the environment, including animals, plants, and people. This conclusion is supported by several decades of research.
Learn more about Direct Current Electric and Magnetic Fields and Alternating Current Electric and Magnetic Fields.
Yes. In recent years, national and international scientific agencies charged with protecting public health have brought together multidisciplinary groups of scientists to review the research and determine if adverse effects are associated with exposure to static electric and magnetic fields. These agencies include the World Health Organization, the National Radiological Protection Board of Great Britain, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. These agencies did not conclude that low levels of static electric or magnetic fields, such as those associated with DC transmission lines, produce any adverse effects.
As part of the International EMF Project, the World Health Organization continues to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF. View the International EMF Project brochure.
Landowners
The Northern Pass will, wherever possible, follow existing PSNH transmission rights-of-way (ROWs) from the beginning of the proposed line in the North Country to the end of the line in Deerfield, without disturbing additional New Hampshire forests and scenic vistas. However, to connect with Hydro-Quebec's electric transmission system, about 40 miles of new right-of-way is proposed from the international Canadian border crossing location to the Lost Nation Substation in Northumberland. If a portion of your property is being considered as part of this additional right-of-way, or located along PSNH’s existing rights-of-way, The Northern Pass project team will work closely with you and other potentially impacted landowners to discuss available options, including negotiation of an easement and ways to mitigate the impact to your property (i.e., optimal structure placement and vegetation screening that can be incorporated into the project design).
Typically, a utility company’s rights within a transmission easement include, among other things, the ability to trim or remove any trees in order to maintain regulatory required clearances around transmission facilities, and the right to construct access roads and transmission facilities, such as the proposed Northern Pass transmission line.
PSNH's easements typically grant PSNH the rights to construct, operate, and maintain lines for the transmission of electric power, and as the owner of those rights, PSNH may transfer or allow the exercise of those rights by others for the same use or purpose. When the easement was originally negotiated and agreed to, it allowed for the utility to use the easement area for their transmission lines, including rebuilding or adding new lines as long as it meets the current regulatory requirements of the National Safety Electrical Code.
The new transmission line will not change your ability to use the property where the easement is located, as long as your use of the property does not interfere with, restrict, or prevent the company’s current or future uses of the easement area. Many landowner activities—such as low-growing landscaping, farming or other agricultural uses, recreational activities, and limited storage—may be allowed to co-exist with the transmission facilities within the easement.
Generally, structure heights and design for the proposed Northern Pass transmission line will vary depending on terrain and width of the right-of-way. In most cases, the wider the right-of-way, the lower the height of the structures. Approximate structure height ranges are as follows for each region of the state (assuming that the ROW is widened as needed):
- New ROW, North of Groveton: 80 – 90 feet
- Existing ROW, Groveton to Franklin (DC line): 85 – 95 feet
- Existing ROW, Franklin to Deerfield (AC line): 90 – 110 feet
In some areas, it may be possible to reduce structure heights by widening an existing right-of-way. If reducing structure heights through the widening of a right-of-way is possible in your area and is something you and your neighbors would prefer, we would welcome the chance to discuss that possibility. Typical distance between structures is 800 feet. Not every property along the route will have a structure on it. If a structure is planned for your property, The Northern Pass project team will work with you to identify ways to minimize the project's effects on your property. The project team can be flexible with a number of factors, such as structure locations and landscaping solutions to minimize the visual effects. More specific information on the transmission structures planned for your property will be available as the engineering and design process moves forward.
The Northern Pass project team will hold local meetings well before the start of any construction to inform the local community and landowners of what to expect. In general, if the project is approved, the following activities for new and existing ROWs can be expected:
- Right-of-way acquisition: Where new or widened rights-of-way are needed for the project, acquisition agents will contact and negotiate with you to secure needed rights. Property surveys and land/property valuation appraisals are also completed at this time.
- Right-of-way clearing: After meeting with you to discuss clearing procedures, trees and brush will be removed from the right-of-way to provide the necessary access for construction equipment and a safe area for crews.
- Work area preparation: Construction vehicles must be able to access the location of each structure. Gravel roads will be created to move equipment used during construction. Timber mats, silt fencing, and other environmental controls will be put in place to stabilize the soil and protect wetlands during construction.
- Structure foundation installation: This process will differ depending on the structure type used, but may include drilling holes and pouring concrete. Typically, structure foundation installation will take a few days to complete.
- New structure installation: Components for the transmission line structures will be delivered to the right-of-way in advance of the installation process. Typically, it takes 1-3 days to erect each structure.
- Wire stringing: This step will require equipment at each end of the section being strung. Wire will be pulled between the “pulling sites” through stringing blocks (pulleys) at each structure. Helicopters may be used during wire-stringing operations.
- Restoration: When construction is complete, we will make every effort to restore your land by replanting native grass and shrubs. We’ll also remove environmental controls, and will repair any areas that may have been damaged during construction.