CMP Brightline BES Initiative

UPDATE: February 12, 2019

The BES project remains on hold, as CMP awaits further direction from the Maine Public Utilities Commission.  CMP expects to know more about the BES project timeline in late spring / early summer. There are aspects of the project design (from Augusta to Kittery) that could change, and therefore, CMP has held off with any additional outreach to the towns where the project will be located. As soon as the direction is clear, CMP will move forward with its outreach effort and neighborhood meetings. In the meantime,  if there are questions about the project the BES phone number is: 1-844-7-CMPBRL or 1-844-726-7275

UPDATE 11/06/2018:

The Brightline BES project is currently in a holding pattern.   Following an initial Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting in July, the next meeting was anticipated for November 2018.  CMP now anticipates this second meeting with the PUC will take place mid-2019 for the review of work in Greater Portland, including the project work in Falmouth.  Among other reasons for this pause in the project, CMP is working on how this project will coordinate with the regional grid and how “non-wired alternatives” (like alternative local energy generation, local energy storage, energy efficiency and electrical demand reduction efforts) will play a role in this project is shaped.

For more information, please contact members of the CMP team at 1-844-726-7275 or contact Ben Smith at ben.smith2@powereng.com

UPDATE 9/17/2018: 

The Brightline BES continues through the planning phase.  The project design is being shaped by regional requirements through ISO-New England and the same time as it continues through the PUC permitting process.  CMP will be back in front of the PUC in November.

Informational public meetings for Falmouth residents are anticipated for early this winter.  These meetings will be scheduled when CMP has a clearer picture of what other elements of the Greater Portland portion of this initiative will look like.  This will be after the November PUC meeting, but could be as soon as November or December 2018.  CMP will continue to work with the Town in order to keep residents updated on the process as it the overall project continues to take shape.

Central Maine Power (CMP) is planning for a series of system upgrades over the next few years to meet new state and federal requirements for reliability.   These upgrades involve about forty (40) individual projects from Augusta through Kittery.  Collectively, these transmission line and substation projects make up CMP’s Brightline BES (Bulk Electric System) Initiative.

In Falmouth, the Brightline BES plan calls for taller poles within the existing easement area.  The existing easement area runs about 6 miles through town with existing poles that are about 50-feet tall.  After improvements are made, the new poles will be about 90-feet in height with an additional line on those new poles.  Please see the PowerPoint slides and the Brightline BES brochure below for more information on the Brightline BES Initiative and what it could mean for changes in Falmouth.

This Initiative is currently going through a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) process to receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN).  This approval is required before any more submissions for PUC and local approvals (where required) can be submitted.  It is not clear at this time what local approvals may be required in Falmouth, but Falmouth residents can stay up to date with the PUC process by going to https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/ExternalHome.aspx and entering Case # 2011-00138 where prompted.  Additionally, members of the public may also request “intervenor status,” meaning official participant status, by emailing that request to the PUC for this case.

For more information, please contact members of the CMP team at 1-844-726-7275 or contact Ben Smith at ben.smith2@powereng.com

To view the Power Point presentation: click here

To view the brochure: click here

To view a larger version of the map above, showing the location of the easement in Falmouth: click here