New England spent a decade fighting to build a hydropower line from Quebec — six months in, it's mostly re-routing electricity the region was already getting, and a drought is quietly undoing the math

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) hydropower transmission line from Quebec has been running for several months, but has only provided a marginal increase in renewable power to the region. The new line is primarily re-routing power that was already being imported, not adding fresh supply, due to a drought in Quebec limiting hydropower production and competition from other projects.

Despite facing challenges, NECEC's backers are optimistic about the long-term potential for increased clean energy. However, the disappointing results highlight the complexity of transitioning to clean energy, as factors such as weather, competition, and grid stability can impact the success of major infrastructure projects. This underscores the importance of creating redundancy with multiple energy sources, storage options, and flexibility to achieve regional climate targets.