UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ELECTRICITY DELIVERY AND ENERGY RELIABILITY Docket No. PP-_____ APPLICATION OF CENTRAL MAINE POWER COMPANY FOR A PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT FOR THE NEW ENGLAND CLEAN ENERGY CONNECT July 26, 2017 Pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended by Executive Order 12038, Central Maine Power Company hereby applies to the United States Department of Energy for a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of facilities for the transmission of electric energy at the international border between the United States and Canada. This application is made pursuant to the United States Department of Energy’s applicable administrative procedures (10 C.F.R. §§ 205.320, et. seq.). {W6269174.1} Contents GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................................................................................................................ 12 SECTION 1 INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICANT ............................................................ 16 1.1. Legal Name and Description of Applicant ........................................................................16 1.2. Legal Names of All Partners ...................................................................................................16 1.3. Correspondence and Communications .............................................................................16 1.4. Foreign Ownership and Affiliations ....................................................................................17 1.5. Existing Contracts with Foreign Entities for Purchase, Sale or Delivery of Electric Energy .......................................................................................................................18 1.6. Opinion of Counsel - Corporate Authority and Compliance with Laws ................18 SECTION 2 INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION LINES TO BE COVERED BY THE PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT .................................................................................................................................. 18 2.1. Project Overview and General Project Description ......................................................18 2.1.1. Core Project Elements: .......................................................................................... 20 2.1.1.1. Transmission Line Equipment: ............................................................... 20 2.1.1.2. Substation Equipment: ............................................................................... 20 2.1.2. Network Upgrades:................................................................................................. 21 2.1.2.1. Transmission Line Equipment: ............................................................... 22 2.1.2.2. Substation Equipment: ............................................................................... 22 2.2. Location, Design, and Construction Methods ..................................................................23 2.2.1. Description of Route Segments .......................................................................... 23 2.2.1.1. HVDC line and 345 kV Interconnection Facilities - Québec – Maine border, Beattie Township to Larrabee Road Substation . 23 2.2.2. Project Components ............................................................................................... 26 2.2.2.1. HVDC Transmission Line ........................................................................... 26 2.2.2.2. Merrill Road Converter Station ............................................................... 26 2.2.2.3. 345 kV Line from Merrill Road Converter Station to Larrabee Road Substation ............................................................................................ 27 2.2.2.4. Larrabee Road Line Terminal .................................................................. 28 {W6269174.1} 2 2.2.3. Staging Areas ............................................................................................................ 28 2.2.4. Upgrade Facilities ................................................................................................... 28 2.2.4.1. 345 kV Line - Coopers Mills Road Substation, Windsor, Maine to Maine Yankee Substation, Wiscasset, Maine ..................................... 29 2.2.4.2. 115 kV Rebuilds - Larrabee Road Substation and Crowley Road Substation to Surowiec Substation ........................................................ 29 2.2.4.1. 200MVAR 345 kV STATCOM – Fickett Road Substation ............... 30 2.2.4.2. 345 kV Line – Surowiec Substation to Fickett Road Substation. 30 2.2.4.1. 345/115 kV Transformer Addition- Raven Farm Substation ..... 30 2.2.5. Operation and Maintenance ................................................................................ 31 2.3. Technical Description ...............................................................................................................33 2.3.1. Number of Circuits .................................................................................................. 34 2.3.2. Operating Voltage and Frequency .................................................................... 34 2.3.3. Conductor Size, Type, and Number of Conductors per Phase ............... 34 2.3.4. Wind and Ice Loading Design Parameters .................................................... 34 2.3.5. Description and Drawing of Typical Supporting Structures, ................. 34 2.3.6. Structure Spacing with Typical Ruling and Maximum Spans ................ 34 2.3.7. Conductor (Phase) Spacing ................................................................................. 35 2.3.8. Designed Line to Ground and Conductor Site Clearances ....................... 35 2.4. Construction and Permit Schedule ......................................................................................35 2.5. General Area Maps and Border Map ...................................................................................36 2.6. Bulk Power System Information ..........................................................................................36 2.6.1. Expected Power Transfer Capability Using Normal and Short Time Emergency Conductor Ratings........................................................................... 36 2.6.2. System Power Flow Plots ..................................................................................... 38 2.6.3. Television, Radio, and Cellular Telephone Interference Reduction Data ........................................................................................................................................ 39 2.6.4. Description of Relay Protection Scheme, Including Equipment and Proposed Functional Devices ............................................................................. 39 2.6.5. System Reliability and Stability Analysis ....................................................... 39 SECTION 3 INFORMATION REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .................................... 41 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................41 {W6269174.1} 3 3.1.1. Minimal environmental impacts ....................................................................... 41 3.1.2. Permitting progress and expectations ............................................................ 42 3.2. Assessment of Environmental Impacts .............................................................................43 3.2.1. Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 44 3.2.1.1. Section 3006 +/- 320 kV HVDC transmission line ........................... 46 3.2.1.2. Merrill Road Converter Station and associated Section 3007 345 kV transmission line .................................................................................... 46 3.2.1.3. Larrabee Road Substation Upgrade ...................................................... 46 3.2.2. Temporary and Permanent Wetland Impact ............................................... 46 3.3. Floodplains and Water Resources .......................................................................................47 3.3.1. Watersheds ................................................................................................................ 47 3.3.2. Surface Waters ......................................................................................................... 48 3.3.3. Floodplains ................................................................................................................ 48 3.3.4. Groundwater ............................................................................................................. 49 3.3.5. Public Water Supply ............................................................................................... 49 3.3.6. Construction, Planning, and Mitigation .......................................................... 49 3.4. Critical Wildlife Habitat ...........................................................................................................50 3.4.1. Atlantic Salmon - Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment ............... 51 3.4.2. Canada Lynx- Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment .......................................................................................................................................