Manager/Senior Manager - EPC Procurement

PPL: Rhode Island Energy Joins Multi-State Selection of Northern Maine Onshore Wind Project. Rhode Island Energy Joins Multi-State Selection of Northern Maine Onshore Wind Project Rhode Island Energy (RIE) today announced the conditional selection of 150 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from the proposed Clearway Energy Group LLC's ("Clearway") project in Aroostook County, Maine, in accordance with Rhode Island's Affordable Clean Energy Security Act. Upon completion, the 800 MW onshore wind development would become the largest onshore wind project in New England. The conditional award follows a competitive, multi-state solicitation led by the Maine Public Utilities Commission that sought proposals for up to 1,200 MW of renewable energy resources, alongside transmission solutions, to strengthen New England's electric grid. RIE participated in the evaluation of generation proposals as part of a coordinated effort involving other New England states. If completed, Clearway's project would significantly expand New England's renewable energy portfolio. At 800 MW, the project would be more than four times larger than the region's largest operating onshore wind facility. "We are committed to helping advance a reliable, safe, affordable, and increasingly clean energy future for our customers, while supporting Rhode Island's 2021 Act on Climate requirements," said Greg Cornett, president of RIE. "The proposed project offers the opportunity to secure a significant amount of renewable energy through a competitive regional procurement while supporting broader efforts to strengthen New England's energy infrastructure and diversify the region's energy supply."

Clearway Energy to develop 800 MW wind farm in Northern Maine. Posted on September 4, 2026 Maine regulators have picked Clearway Energy to develop an 800-megawatt (MW) wind farm in northern Maine - a project that would boost the state's existing onshore wind capacity by about 66%. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) also selected Avangrid Networks, the parent company of Central Maine Power, to develop the high-voltage transmission line needed to carry the wind power from the north of the state to the New England grid. Clearway's proposed wind farm would be the largest in Maine, which had 1,214 MW of onshore wind-powered generating capacity as of October 2025. Maine plans to buy about 600 MW of the project's output, with the remaining 200 MW going to other New England states. The Clearway wind farm is planned for commercial timberland in rural, unincorporated southeastern Aroostook County. Clearway told Maine Public that the site has existing roads, access to transmission rights-of-way, and strong, reliable wind. Getting Northern Maine's electricity generated by excellent wind to customers has long been the challenge. Aroostook County isn't directly connected to the regional ISO New England grid, and building enough transmission to move large amounts of power south is expensive. Avangrid's proposed 1,200 MW transmission line would change that. The PUC said the company's proposal makes maximum practical use of existing transmission corridors, and Avangrid has already secured nearly all of the necessary rights of way. The line would terminate at Haynesville, where it would connect to the wider regional grid. The transmission line will have 400 MW of capacity left after the Clearway wind farm connects, and the PUC plans to issue additional requests for proposals to fill that capacity. Maine expects $387 million in ratepayer savings. Maine estimates the wind and transmission projects will deliver between $387 million and $425 million in net benefits to the state's electricity customers over their operating life. Maine ratepayers will pay for the state's share of the wind power, but the cost of the transmission line will be spread across participating states. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont are taking part in the procurement, leaving Maine responsible for less than 11% of transmission costs. "This procurement reflects months of careful work to identify projects that will bring reliable, renewable energy to the grid, providing value to Maine and the region, while minimizing costs for Maine ratepayers by sharing costs with other states commensurate with the value provided," said Maine PUC chair Philip Bartlett. The PUC estimates that the projects will create more than 2,500 full-time construction jobs over four years, generate around $150 million in new state and municipal tax revenue, and produce more than $2.4 billion in economic output in Maine. This wind farm isn't ready to build yet. The PUC still has to negotiate and approve a power purchase agreement with Clearway. The transmission arrangement must also be finalized by the participating states and Avangrid, then submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval. Both projects will also face engineering work, environmental reviews, permitting, and community engagement. Clearway's wind farm can't be built unless the transmission project moves ahead. And Maine has been here before. The legislature first directed the PUC to develop northern Maine wind and transmission in 2021, but the projects selected during the previous procurement fell apart in late 2023 after transmission negotiations failed. This time, five New England states are sharing the costs and benefits, and Avangrid's use of existing corridors could make the transmission line easier to build. But with contracts and permits still outstanding, it will be years before turbines can begin sending northern Maine wind power onto the New England grid. Given that the Trump administration is aggressively working to stop wind power, a few extra years to keep this project on track is probably a good thing.

Maine selects company to build large wind farm, plus a transmission line, to send power south. * Peter McGuire, Maine Public August 26, 2026 Maine utility regulators have selected two companies to develop untapped wind power resources in the northern part of the state, part of an eagerly anticipated clean energy project supported by most New England states. The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday selected Clearway Energy Group LLC to develop onshore wind turbines that can generate 800 megawatts of electricity in Aroostook County near the Canadian border. Commissioners also chose the company Avangrid to develop a new high voltage power line to connect the proposed wind turbines to the New England regional electric grid. With the Trump administration effectively hitting pause on offshore wind development, this land-based wind farm represents one of the only remaining opportunities to develop significant renewable energy resources in the region. The proposed wind farm would be the largest in Maine, which now has about 900 total megawatts of land-based wind generation. Phil Bartlett, who leads the commission, said the project will save Maine electric customers at least $387 million over its lifetime. Support WBUR "These transmission and generation projects will bring substantial economic benefits to the state, creating thousands of full-time jobs during construction and $2.4 billion in economic output," Bartlett said in a statement. The transmission side of the project could also connect Aroostook County directly to the New England power system, a precursor to developing the area's substantial renewable energy resources, said Commissioner Patrick Scully. "In my prior career, I saw up close the challenge of siting new energy projects in northern Maine, caused by the cost of building long transmission facilities to access the New England market, and the significant congestion on existing transmission infrastructure," Scully said. Maine plans to buy 600 megawatts of power from the project, with the remainder being delivered to other New England states, according to spokesperson Susan Faloon. Ratepayers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island will share the cost of building the transmission line with Maine. In a statement, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper praised the procurement results. "Energy demand is rising, and we need more affordable power for resident and businesses. The selected transmission project will deliver clean, affordable energy throughout New England," she said. "Massachusetts is proud to be a part of this effort to increase energy supply and lower bills." Further details of the proposed deal will be available after the commission finalizes a power purchase contract with Clearway, Faloon said. Nick Benjamin, Clearway's northeastern development director, in an interview said the project is planned for commercial timberland in rural, unincorporated southeast Aroostook County. Support WBUR Major site attributes include existing roads, proximity to electric transmission right of way and reliable wind speeds, Benjamin said. "This project is going to keep energy costs stable for Maine families and business for decades to come, while bringing material economic investment to Northern Maine and meeting the state and region's grid needs," Benjamin added. It will take years to permit and develop the project and building new generation is contingent on a new transmission line, according to the commission. The Maine Legislature directed the Public Utilities Commission to develop wind generation and transmission in northern Maine in 2021. An earlier project fell through in late 2023 after negotiations over the power line failed. Avangrid spokesperson Jon Breed, in a statement said a distinguishing feature of its proposal is its use of existing power corridors and rights of way that will reduce uncertainty and limit potential disruptions to the environment. "While selection is an important milestone, extensive engineering, environmental review, permitting, and community engagement remains ahead," Breed said. This is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by Maine Public. WBUR's Miriam Wasser contributed reporting.