Target: Thorn Dickinson, President and CEO of New England Clean Energy Connect
Goal: Amend plans for power line construction through indigenous lands and forests.
A clean energy project in the northeast has hit a snag. The New England Clean Energy Connect initiative would provide electrical power to parts of New England from Canada. While fossil fuel special interests predictably fought against this project, it also has received pushback from environmental advocates and even got a veto in a recent Maine referendum. The problem: as it stands now, the environmentally friendly effort could actually do more harm than good.
The most current version of the project would have strewn above-ground power lines across the North Woods of Maine. This precious natural habitat includes sites like the Kennebec gorge. Indigenous peoples in Canada also protested, claiming that some of their ancestral lands would also be damaged by the proposed power lines. Further, many advocates were concerned that the electricity generated by the transmission lines would derive mostly from fossil fuel sources.
This effort at decarbonization and emissions reduction could be beneficial, but only if needed changes are made. Sign the petition below to urge project leaders to rethink and revise their plans before moving forward.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Dickinson,
New England Clean Energy Connect can play a pivotal role in meeting the goals of Massachusetts and other states to reduce carbon emissions significantly in the next decade. This project cannot, however, set aside other environmental concerns like habitat protection and deforestation. Instead of filing lawsuits trying to overturn a public vote, instead try listening to the people.
Heed their worries about the impact of above-ground lines on important lands. Address their skepticism that this project will just further enable the fossil fuel industry with reliance on these fuels to provide the ultimate power source. Most of all, act to find solutions that work for everyone and not just a privileged few.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Thomsonmg2000
624 Signatures