Meetings set on power line upgrades

SACO, MAINE - A series of public information meetings about Central Maine Power Co.'s proposal for a major transmission system upgrade kicks off September 3 in Saco at Holiday Inn Express, 352 North Street.

These meetings will provide an opportunity for the public, landowners, and other interested parties to review materials concerning the construction of electric utility facilities and the associated environmental impacts of the proposed Maine Power Reliability Program upgrade.

The project would consists of new construction or modifications of approximately 485 miles of 345,000 volt and 115,000 volt transmission lines and related substation improvements.

Other meetings are set for Sept. 4 in Waterville, at the Holiday Inn, 375 Main St.; and Sept. 9, in Lewiston, at the Ramada Conference Center, 490 Pleasant Street.

All three events will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

The project is expected to cost approximately $1.4 billion and will require several state and federal regulatory permits and local approvals in approximately 80 municipalities. CMP and Public Service of New Hampshire filed an initial request in July with the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

Applications for environmental permits and local approvals will be filed late this year.