PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The New England Clean Energy Connect is buying nearly 50,000 heavy duty mats to be placed on the ground during construction of the 145-mile (230-kilometer) power transmission corridor.
A $7 million contract announced Friday for 17,000 mats will be divided among four Maine companies. An additional 30,000 mats were recently purchased from Maine contractors at a cost of $12 million. The mats will be used to create portable roads during construction phase.
Last week, the CMP-led project announced the award of more than $300 million in contracts for upgrading transmission lines and clearing land.
The project is moving forward even though there are a few pending regulatory approvals, along with the prospect of a statewide vote.
The proposal calls for a transmission line to bring 1,200 megawatts of electricity from Hydro-Quebec to the New England power grid.
Most of the transmission line would follow established utility corridors, but a new swath would be cut through 53 miles (85 kilometers) of wilderness owned by CMP in western Maine.
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