If completed, the New England Clean Energy Connect project, six years in the making, would help bring hydropower from Canadian mega dams to ratepayers in
But the project's future is now in doubt after a majority of
As a result of the referendum vote, with 59% of votes in support, all future "high-impact" transmission line projects will require a two-thirds vote of each state legislative chamber to approve.
"
"If CMP fails to halt construction activities right away, then the
"We also call on
With Tuesday's vote,
"They should pursue the one through
Though it's not clear how
"The fact that when they got all the applications and approvals completed and quickly began construction, I think was evidence that this was an undertaking that they were not going to step away from," Delogu, who has penned op-eds in support of the NCEC project, told UPI.
"And I think that commitment went right up the corporate hierarchy," Delogu said.
CMP is a subsidiary of Avingrid, an American energy company owned by Spanish conglomerate
CMP has spent the last six years going through a long regulatory review process, earning approval from multiple state and federal agencies.
Then, an unusual alliance of environmental groups, oil and gas interests, fishing guides and local politicians worked to get Question 1 on the ballot and thwart the project.
Environmental groups like NRCM and the
He sees the referendum as legally vulnerable, and he suspects CRM -- which has invested millions in the project -- sees things similarly.
"It's badly worded, it covers a spectrum of issues, not just one issue, but you only get one yes or no vote," Delogu said.
"There are various aspects of the initiative that it will be challenged with a high degree of likelihood that will be thrown out. CMP will be in court within a day or two filing an appeal of the constitutionality of this initiative," Delogu said.
For the environmental advocates who actively opposed the CMP, casting doubt on the green bonafides of mega-dam-derived power, Tuesday's results were a big win.
For others like Delogu, who see the corridor as a necessary solution to climate change, the referendum result is a reminder of the power of big oil and gas.
"The fossil fuel people don't want the power coming in from
"Their ability to keep killing these linkages has to got to end if we're going to deal responsibly with the problem with global warming
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