The Canadian energy services company Emera plans to build the 1,000 MW "Atlantic Link" (AL) subsea transmission line project. The 375 miles (603-km) HVDC line would connect Atlantic Canada to the Boston load center (US) and interconnect the Coleson Cove neighbourhood (including in particular the 978 MW Coleson Cove thermal power station) in New Brunswick (Canada) with Massachusetts. The project’s power supply mix is scheduled to be over 70% wind energy from the yet to be built wind park facilities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with hydropower from the Canadian companies Nalcor Energy and NB Power. The project also includes the construction of new HVDC converter facilities and substations in Plymouth (US) and at Coleson Cove (Canada).
AL is 100% owned by Emera subsidiary Clean Power Northeast Development while NB Power also holds an option to participate in the project as a minority investor. If the line is commissioned, Emera claims to deliver 5.69 TWh of power annually directly to Massachusetts, for a delivered price that remains fixed for 20 years. The rationale behind the deal is to optimize power flows between South East Massachusetts (US) and Atlantic Canada.
Emera also intends to complete the construction of the 500 MW "Maritime Link" HVDC subsea cable between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) later in 2017. It will be connected with AL in Coleson Cove if the project is approved.