The Maine Public Utilities Commission has reopened the bid window for the development and construction of a northern Maine energy generation project and a transmission line to connect with the ISO-New England grid.
The project, the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program, is a second attempt to solicit bids under a 2021 Maine law ordering bids for northern Maine power generation and transmission, following the failed King Pine Wind and LS Power project.
The reopened bidding process launched Monday. When completed, the project could save Mainers hundreds of millions of dollars, energy experts said.
The King Pine and LS Power project was plagued by a complicated contracting process, long delays and cost increases. Keeping the lessons learned from the failed project in mind, state regulators have taken measured steps to solicit feedback from potential developers.
In this go-round, the PUC worked several information and feedback opportunities into the process before drafting the RFP. It joined with other New England states to share in the cost that could eventually reduce the state’s dependence on natural gas given the volatility of that market.
With all six New England states sharing in the costs for regional transmission investments, Maine ratepayers could pay much less of the overall cost for a project in the northern part of the state, according to clean energy experts.
Reopening the bid window allows as many bidders as possible to develop proposals and participate, bringing the northern Maine generation and transmission line one step closer to reality, according to the public utilities commission’s order issued on Monday afternoon.
State regulators reopen northern Maine power line bids
by Long Islander
7 hours ago
by Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli
4/29/26
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has reopened the bid window for the development and construction of a northern Maine energy generation project and a transmission line to connect with the ISO-New England grid.
The project, the Northern Maine Renewable Energy Development Program, is a second attempt to solicit bids under a 2021 Maine law ordering bids for northern Maine power generation and transmission, following the failed King Pine Wind and LS Power project.
The reopened bidding process launched Monday. When completed, the project could save Mainers hundreds of millions of dollars, energy experts said.
The King Pine and LS Power project was plagued by a complicated contracting process, long delays and cost increases. Keeping the lessons learned from the failed project in mind, state regulators have taken measured steps to solicit feedback from potential developers.
In this go-round, the PUC worked several information and feedback opportunities into the process before drafting the RFP. It joined with other New England states to share in the cost that could eventually reduce the state’s dependence on natural gas given the volatility of that market.
With all six New England states sharing in the costs for regional transmission investments, Maine ratepayers could pay much less of the overall cost for a project in the northern part of the state, according to clean energy experts.
Reopening the bid window allows as many bidders as possible to develop proposals and participate, bringing the northern Maine generation and transmission line one step closer to reality, according to the public utilities commission’s order issued on Monday afternoon.
Continue reading at https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/04/29/aroostook/aroostook-government/state-regulators-reopen-northern-maine-power-line-bids/