Falmouth residents rally against proposed CMP transmission line upgrade

Falmouth Grapples with Central Maine Power’s Proposed Transmission Upgrade

Falmouth, Maine – Residents of the coastal town are sounding the alarm over Central Maine Power’s (CMP) plan to upgrade a 135‑foot‑wide transmission corridor that runs through their neighborhood. The proposed “Greater Portland Transmission Upgrades Project” (GPTUP) would replace aging lines, add new poles that could reach 110 feet, and clearcut trees along the right‑of‑way.

The project, which would link substations in Cumberland, Portland, Falmouth and Westbrook, has sparked a fierce local backlash that is already influencing the town council’s next meeting. The debate is now moving from neighborhood meetings to state regulators, with a full‑scale review by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) slated to conclude by the end of the year.

A Project That Will Touch Homes, Schools and Forests

CMP says the upgrade is necessary to “strengthen the energy grid in Greater Portland” and protect “critical facilities such as hospitals, schools and residences” from outages. A spokesperson noted that in 2023 a single line failure had cut power to the whole community, highlighting the need to add redundancy.

The upgrade would involve:

• Building a new substation in Portland and upgrading two in Cumberland and Portland.
• Rebuilding the transmission line between Cumberland and Falmouth, and a separate leg through Westbrook.
• Installing a new line between Portland and Cumberland.

New poles would be 80‑110 feet tall, taller than most local trees, and would require clearing of vegetation across a 135‑foot corridor. CMP maintains that only a portion of the line will need the full width, and that in some spots the right‑of‑way already exists at 135 feet.

“It’s really getting to the point where it could be too late,” Roger Brothers told the Falmouth Town Council on September 28. “We really need our representatives to advocate for us and protect us. Please help us.”

Jaime Batista, a leader of the Alliance for Responsible Infrastructure (ARI)—the nonprofit that has organized abutters from Falmouth and neighboring towns—added that the line would “sprawl and permanently scar its landscape.”

Joseph Smith, a neighbor of Brothers, said the news hit him “like a heart sinking.” Rita Clare, who rents a condominium close to the corridor, explained, “We just want CMP to be held accountable for the need for this expansion. We just want to buy some time to see if this is actually necessary.”

A Rapidly Growing Opposition Movement

The opposition began in earnest when Brothers, Smith and other neighbors met in August to discuss the corridor’s impact on their properties. They organized an online portal, mailed 2,500 flyers to residents of nearby towns, and created the website stopthecmpline.com. The group’s petition has already gathered hundreds of signatures.

On September 2, the ARI filed a petition to become an intervenor in the PUC case. The agency granted the request on September 14, allowing the group to submit official testimony and question witnesses. The ARI also filed a motion on September 14 asking the PUC to establish a threshold merit phase that would independently review CMP’s claims of necessity. CMP responded on September 28, arguing that the PUC already conducts a thorough assessment of the project’s need and that the motion would duplicate that work and delay approval.

“The requested threshold phase would not make the record fairer or clearer,” the CMP filing said.

The PUC’s standard review process—starting with CMP’s application deemed complete in July—typically takes about a year. If approved, the project would take three to four years to finish. Intervenor testimony must be filed by October 23, after which the PUC will hold a technical conference on December 2 to cross‑examine all parties before issuing a final decision.

Town Council’s Response

The Falmouth Town Council held a meeting on September 28, during which residents expressed frustration that they had “heard little or absolutely nothing directly from CMP about a proposal with such significant implications.” Councilor Alisa Morton called the lack of communication “incredibly troubling.”

Councilor Sean Mahoney, who also serves on the Conservation Law Foundation and is an intervenor, noted that the project is “a half‑billion‑dollar investment that has flown under the radar of many, many people.”

In the same meeting, the council authorized staff to send a letter to CMP. The letter conveyed residents’ disappointment and demanded more detailed information about the line’s impact. It also urged CMP to engage directly with the community to answer unanswered questions as the intervenor deadline approaches.

The council further ordered staff to file a formal support of the ARI’s motion for a threshold merits phase, effectively backing the group’s request to add an independent review.

A resolution will be considered at the next council meeting on October 14. If passed, it would request clearer answers from CMP and affirm the town’s support for the PUC to evaluate the necessity of the upgrades. The resolution is expected to be filed with the PUC in writing.

Residents’ Concerns

Beyond the obvious visual and environmental impact, residents fear a range of consequences:

• Health and Safety: The new line’s proximity to hundreds of homes raises concerns about electromagnetic fields and potential health risks.
• Property Value: The presence of a tall transmission line could depress real‑estate values, especially if a future public middle school is built near the corridor.
• Ecology and Aesthetics: Clearing a 135‑foot strip will remove trees that provide wildlife habitat and shade, altering the town’s green spaces.
• Future Development: Residents worry that the line’s presence will deter new construction or shift the location of future community projects.

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