Hydro-Québec and Eversource Energy: Partnering to Help Solve New England's Energy Challenges

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Aug 31, 2015, 12:15 ET

ST. JOHN'S, Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro-Québec and Eversource Energy today underscored their firm commitment to help solve New England's energy challenges through their long-standing partnership. The two companies are working together to build the Northern Pass Transmission project, which will export 1,000 megawatts of hydropower from Québec's world-class generation fleet to New England, increasing clean energy trade between the Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canadian electricity markets, a primary goal of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers.

This continued commitment follows the recent announcement by Eversource of its Forward NH Plan that addresses feedback from New Hampshire stakeholders, the issuance by the U.S. Department of Energy of a favorable draft Environmental Impact Statement, and in anticipation of the Clean Energy and Transmission Request for Proposals (Clean Energy RFP).

"Eversource will be our partner in the offering of new, clean energy that will be delivered to the New England power system through the innovative approach of the Clean Energy RFP," said Eric Martel, Hydro-Québec's CEO. "We are confident that the Northern Pass project will be the leading solution for delivering significant reliability, environmental, and economic benefits to both New England and Eastern Canada."

Clean energy from Hydro-Québec will help to solve the unique energy challenges facing the New England power system, including the region's reliance on natural gas for power generation and its need to expand use of renewable energy. Using new HVDC technology, the view impacts of Northern Pass will be reduced, while still providing energy cost savings and much-needed clean, reliable energy to the region. As the project's comprehensive public permitting process moves forward, Eversource is continuing its outreach and soliciting additional feedback from New Hampshire stakeholders. Northern Pass will soon file for New Hampshire state siting approval. Hydro-Québec is pursuing a similar permitting process to construct a transmission line in Canada to connect its generation to Northern Pass at the border.

"Eversource is proud to partner with Hydro-Québec on this important clean energy project that will provide New England with energy stability and diversity, lower energy costs, and cleaner air for decades to come," said Tom May, Chairman, President & CEO of Eversource Energy. "We look forward to the New Hampshire siting process, and believe Northern Pass is well-positioned to economically meet the clean energy goals of the New England governors and their states with this firm and reliable energy supply."

Hydro-Québec today also committed to the development of an energy verification and tracking process. This effort will ensure that clean energy is delivered to the jurisdictions that purchase it, a vital element of the Clean Energy RFP.

About The Northern Pass Transmission project

The Northern Pass Transmission project would deliver 1,000 megawatts of clean, renewable hydropower from the vast reserves of Hydro-Québec into the New England grid and offer unique economic and clean energy benefits to the state of New Hampshire. The estimated $1.4 billion project has received its draft Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Department of Energy and will file its application with the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee this fall, with a target in-service date of spring, 2019. For more information, please visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Eversource

Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas for more than 3.6 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Eversource harnesses the commitment of its more than 8,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of delivering reliable energy and superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website (www.eversource.com) and follow us on Twitter (@EversourceCorp) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceEnergy).

About Hydro-Québec

Hydro‑Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Québec government. While using mainly hydroelectric generation, it supports the development of other technologies—such as wind energy and biomass—through purchases from independent power producers. It also conducts R&D in energy-related fields, including energy efficiency. The company has four divisions: Hydro-Québec Production, Hydro-Québec Transénergie , Hydro-Québec Distribution and Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés and Société d'énergie de la Baie James (SEBJ), a subsidiary of Hydro‑Québec. For more information, please visit our website and follow us on Twitter (@HydroQuébec)

SOURCE Hydro-Québec