NECEC
NECEC is a company.
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Leadership Team
Key people at NECEC.
NECEC is a company.
Key people at NECEC.
Key people at NECEC.
The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) is a major transmission infrastructure project, not a standalone company, developed by Avangrid Inc. (a subsidiary of Iberdrola) and Central Maine Power (CMP) to deliver 1,200 MW of clean hydroelectric power from Québec, Canada, to the New England grid via a new 54-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line, upgrades to 91 miles of existing lines, a converter station in Lewiston, Maine, and related substations.[1][5] It serves utilities and ratepayers across Maine and Massachusetts, solving energy reliability, cost volatility, and emissions challenges by providing baseload renewable energy equivalent to powering 1.2 million homes, reducing CO2 emissions by 3.0–3.6 million metric tons annually, and saving customers $3.9–$4 billion over 20 years through stabilized prices (e.g., $18–$20/year per Massachusetts residential customer).[2][3][4] With over $950 million invested and peak construction creating 1,600 jobs, NECEC represents New England's largest renewable energy import once operational.[1][3][4]
NECEC emerged from Massachusetts' 2016 Request for Proposals for long-term clean energy contracts to cut carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence, leading Central Maine Power (CMP, an Avangrid subsidiary) to partner with Hydro-Québec.[7] Community outreach and permitting began in 2017, securing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval in October 2018 and Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in May 2019.[1] Despite legal and ballot challenges, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Presidential Permit in January 2021, kicking off construction; by November 2025, Avangrid obtained the final permit, paving the way for energization.[1][4] Avangrid, headquartered in Orange, CT with $41 billion in assets across 24 states, drives the project through its Networks and Renewables divisions, emphasizing sustainable energy infrastructure.[1]
NECEC rides the clean energy transition wave in New England, where natural gas powers ~50% of electricity but faces supply constraints and emissions mandates, making imported hydropower essential for net-zero goals.[9] Its timing aligns with post-2020 regulatory wins and 2025 final permitting amid rising demand from electrification (EVs, heat pumps) and data centers, bolstering ISO-New England grid reliability via a new 320 kV HVDC line operational by Q4 2025.[1][8] Market forces like federal clean energy incentives and state RFPs favor it, positioning NECEC as a model for cross-border renewables that reduce fossil reliance, lower bills, and create jobs, influencing regional decarbonization by enabling more wind/solar integration.[2][7]
NECEC is poised for full energization in late 2025 or early 2026, delivering immediate emissions cuts, cost savings, and reliability as New England's top renewable source.[4][8] Trends like AI-driven power demand and stricter carbon rules will amplify its value, potentially expanding via similar Québec-U.S. corridors or upgrades. Its success could evolve regional energy policy toward more imported clean baseload, solidifying Avangrid/Iberdrola's leadership in sustainable grids while proving large-scale transmission triumphs over opposition for lasting climate and economic gains—echoing its origin as a vital clean energy lifeline.[1][3]
