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LEWISTON — Development of a $200 million station that will convert and transmit hydropower from Canada was unanimously approved by the Planning Board on Monday.
The station, considered a centerpiece of the controversial New England Clean Energy Connect project, was given conditional use approval by the board, and according to city staff, site work will begin soon.
City Planner Doug Greene said that with Monday’s approvals, subcontractors on the project will receive the go-ahead to begin building an access road and clear trees for the station, which will be located at 1651-1653 Main St. and 183 Merrill Road Rear.
The project is in close proximity to a Central Maine Power substation on Larrabee Road, which is also due to receive upgrades as part of the overall NECEC transmission line. According to a Planning Board memo, the access road for the new station will traverse an existing CMP line to a 54-acre parcel purchased for the NECEC project.