The developer of a massive power line that aims to bring 1,200 megawatts of hydropower from Canada into Massachusetts sued NextEra, accusing the utility of “anticompetitively and tortiously sabotaging” the build-out of the project in a lawsuit filed Friday.
The lawsuit represents the latest twist in a yearslong dispute between developer Avangrid and renewable energy giant NextEra. The two companies each poured millions of dollars into competing campaigns over a voter referendum in Maine on whether to build the line through the state — putting a renewed spotlight on the fierce utility battle over control of power infrastructure.
Avangrid alleged in its 130-page lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’ Western Division, that NextEra “abused the regulatory and judicial process, misled voters with illegal dark money and false statements, and obstructed electric infrastructure improvements” to kill the line. The developer further alleges NextEra’s actions cost it more than $350 million.
NextEra is one of the largest power companies in the U.S. and owns 72 gigawatts of power projects across the country, including 38 gigawatts of wind, solar and storage. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
