Maine regulators greenlight new wind power project

Maine regulators have given final approval to a wind power project that would provide electricity to a minimum of 450,000 homes in New England.

The unanimous vote by the Maine Public Utilities Commission on two projects bearing a net cost of $1.8 billion comes after Massachusetts endorsed the proposal, becoming a partner on the 1,000-megawatt project and allowing the costs to be shared by a larger pool of ratepayers.

Under the plan, Maine ratepayers would be responsible for 60%, or about $1 billion of the costs, officials said. The average ratepayer would pay an extra $1 per month over the first decade, officials said.