Eversource Withdraws Contracts for Access Northeast, Remains Committed to Project
Eversource has withdrawn contracts that made up the Access Northeast project.
The project was placed into jeopardy last week after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the company could not fund the project through ratepayer increases.
Eversource filed for withdrawal of the long-term gas capacity contracts Monday, with spokesperson Mike Durand saying in a written statement the move is simply a formality. Durand says in light of the SJC ruling, the Department of Public Utilities does not have the authority to review and approve the contracts, so they were withdrawn.
Durand says the withdrawal does not affect Eversource's committment to the project.
Access Northeast would upgrade the existing Algonquin gas transmission pipeline and build large-capacity storage tanks, including two proposed tanks in Acushnet.