A new federal lawsuit is the latest effort by environmentalists to block Eversource from building a new power line on the Seacoast.
The Clean Water Act suit from the Conservation Law Foundation targets a federal permit that Eversource got last month to build the underwater part of its Seacoast Reliability Project.
The 13-mile power line between Madbury and Portsmouth will include a mile beneath Little Bay, between Durham and Newington.
CLF argues the Army Corps of Engineers didn’t do its due diligence before issuing the permit for that project – which, the nonprofit says, will irreparably damage the already degraded estuary.
Opponents’ previous appeals to try and block the power line have failed, and construction on land-based portions is already underway. Eversource got state approval for the project late last year.
They say it’s necessary to improve electric service in the region.
