Hide Transcript Show Transcript

SUPREME COURT WILL DECIDE IF IT HEADS BACK TO A COMMITTEE FOR RECONSIDERATION. >> APPEAL OF NORTHERN PASS TRANSMISSION. >> THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL NOW DECIDE IF THE CONTROVERSIAL NORTHERN PASS PROJECT WILL GET A SECOND CHANCE. IT WOULD BRING HYDROPOWER FROM CANADA TO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THROUGH A NEARLY TWO HUNDRED MILE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE PROJECTS DEVELOPER EVERSOURCE SAYS IT WASN’T GIVEN A FAIR REVIEW THE FIRST TIME AROUND WHEN THE THE SITE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, WHICH NEEDED TO APPROVE THE PROJECT, CUT DELIBERATIONS SHORT AND REJECTED IT. >> THERE WAS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD FORWARD I COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC AS 20 THE ESTIMATE OF EFFECTS IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WOULD BE. >> ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE SITE EVALUATION COMMITTEE SAY THE PROJECT WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND EXECUTED. THE PRESIDENT OF EVERSOURCE SAYS HE WANTS THE COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER. >> I THINK THE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE GOT, FULLY DELIBERATE ALL THE FACTORS, AS REQUIRED BY STATUTE. RENDER A NEW DECISION. >> HE SAYS EVERSOURCE MAY CONSIDER PUTTING FORTH A NEW APPLICATION BUT CRITICS SAY IT DOESN’T MATTER. >> WHEN IS IT A NEW APPLICATION AND WHEN DOES IT THE SAME APPLICATION? WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, IF IT EVER COMES TO PASS, I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE ENERGY TO MOVE FROM QUEBEC TO THE BOSTON MARKET. MORE THAN SIMPLE CUTTING THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> IT COULD TAKE THE SUPREME COURT UP TO SIX MONTHS TO ISSUE A DECISION ON THIS. LIVE IN STUDIO, KRISTEN CAROSA, WMUR NEW

Advertisement NH Supreme Court hears from both sides on Northern Pass project State's Site Evaluation Committee denied Northern Pass project last year Share Shares Copy Link Copy

New Hampshire's Supreme Court is considering whether to give the Northern Pass electricity transmission project another chance.A hearing Wednesday focused on whether a state committee followed its own rules when it rejected the hydropower transmission plan last year.The project would bring hydropower from Canada to southern New England through a nearly 200-mile transmission line. The project's developer, Eversource, said it wasn't given a fair review the first time around when the Site Evaluation Committee, which needed to approve the project, cut deliberations short and rejected it."There was plenty of evidence in the record put forward by counsel for the public as to what the estimate of effects in any of these areas would be. They never considered that," said Bill Glahn, an attorney for Northern Pass.Attorneys representing the committee said the project was poorly designed and executed."Appellant's evidence was not sufficient and was not credible, so they were not entitled to approval," said Amy Manzelli, an attorney for the committee.Eversource president Bill Quinlan said he wants the committee to reconsider the project."Take the evidence, fully deliberate all the factors as they are required to by statute and render a new decision," he said.Quinlan said Eversource might consider putting forth a new application, but critics said it doesn't matter."When is it a new application or when is it the same application just sort of re-baked and put forward?" said Jack Savage, of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. "We will look at that if it ever comes to pass, but I think there are lots of opportunities for more energy to move from Quebec to the Boston market than simply cutting through New Hampshire."It could take the Supreme Court up to six months to issue a decision.