WRITE LETTERS AND MAKE PHONE CALLS

SAMPLE LETTER

(Date)

(Agency head)
(Agency)
(Address)

Dear (Public Official or Agency),

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Central Maine Power's corridor project appears to have been fast-tracked through the permitting process.

​

(Sample questions below)

1.  Why did the Maine Public Utilities Commission accept testimony from the Western Mountains and Rivers Corporation?  The WMRC was created immediately before CMP applied for their permit, and was headed by people that had (and still have) a financial interest in the project.  Why was this permitted?

2.  Why were documents that CMP paid to have written used as primary evidence of the benefits for the corridor project?  The documents were biased to shine a light on CMP, but did not include the negative impacts.

3.  After the extent of CMP's exaggerated benefits came to light, CMP was not required to resubmit their permit application, even though they used the exaggerated benefit claims to obtain the permits.  Why was the MPUC not required to review the permit application after CMP "corrected" the errors?

4.  With the climate in Maine slowly getting warmer, and fires likely to become a problem in the near future (such as what has happened in California), why was CMP not required to bury the transmission line?  The power companies in California are now burying the power lines to prevent continued disasters.  Shouldn't the responsible Maine departments have required that the HVDC power lines in the corridor be buried to prevent a similar disaster in Maine?  There are no fire department resources in that area to extinguish any fires. Maine tax payers will foot the bills to put out the fires, not CMP.

5.  With the upcoming doubling of our electric rates, how much does that negate CMP's claim of $18 million in tax benefits to Maine towns?  It appears that we are paying for the corridor, whether CMP is permitted to build it or not.  Does the MPUC consider those conflicts when they approve the rate hikes?

Thank you for your assistance on this matter.

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Respectfully,

(Your name)
(City, State, Zip)
(Telephone Number)