
Environmental groups appeal judge's approval of construction for controversial power corridor
May 29—Environmental groups are appealing a federal judge's decision to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy to continue construction of the New England Clean Energy Connect corridor — a controversial 145-mile electricity transmission line through western Maine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker ruled in favor of the federal agencies last month after the groups sued them for not thoroughly assessing the environmental impacts of the transmission line, which will span 53 miles of forest to bring power from hydroelectric dams in Quebec through Lewiston.
The project will bring 1,200 megawatts to the New England electrical grid, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Army Corps previously determined that the $1.5 billion project had "no significant impact" on the environment. The Appalachian Mountain Club, Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Sierra Club-Maine Chapter asked the judge to revoke the permits because they say the agency failed to comprehensively analyze how the line could impact the aquatic ecosystem. But Walker ultimately decided the corps' assessment was fair and thorough.
The groups filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
The project is organized under Avangrid Inc., the parent company of Central Maine Power Co. and a subsidiary of Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational energy company.
Maine voters had opposed construction of the power line in a 2021 ballot referendum, but construction resumed a few years later after a Cumberland County jury found, in a separate lawsuit, that the developer had "vested rights" to continue the project.
This story will be updated.
Copy the Story Link
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Facephi Enhances Digital Security with Advanced Behavioral Biometrics to Prevent Sophisticated Real-Time Fraud
Its new product creates unique behavioral profiles to detect complex fraud without compromising the user experience. This technology upgrade boosts real-time security by combining artificial intelligence and contextual analysis to identify anomalous patterns and suspicious behavior. With this new service, Facephi offers continuous protection against threats like identity theft and new account fraud (NAF). ALICANTE, Spain, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Facephi, a Spanish technology company specializing in digital identity protection and verification, is tackling one of the biggest challenges in the digital world: detecting and neutralizing increasingly sophisticated fraud in real time with its Behavioral Biometrics solution. This technology analyzes over 3,000 contextual signals and is capable of generating a unique behavioral profile for each user to detect suspicious activity—without relying on traditional biometrics. 'The goal of this product is to create a sort of 'cyber-DNA' based on various user parameters derived from behavioral biometrics—something as unique as their fingerprints. The solution identifies individual characteristics in how people type or interact with their electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers, enabling highly accurate verification,' explains Jorge Sanz, General Manager at Facephi. Real-Time Security Through AI and Contextual AnalysisFacephi's Behavioral Biometrics integrates seamlessly into its product ecosystem, combining contextual analysis with artificial intelligence. The solution not only strengthens user authentication but also continuously assesses risk based on the context of each interaction, such as geolocation or transaction history, adapting to new threats as they arise. In other words, the system gathers a variety of parameters through behavioral biometrics: how a user operates a device, behavioral patterns, and details about when, from where, and what the user is accessing. It also provides device and network information, including all data associated with accessing a secured website or mobile application server. Thanks to its ability to analyze dynamic signals, Facephi adds an extra layer of protection by evaluating every digital interaction within its context, ensuring that only legitimate users gain access to systems and services in highly regulated and sensitive sectors such as banking, fintech, insurance, and healthcare—where safeguarding digital identity is paramount. The Facephi solution ensures that user interactions are protected at all times and complies with the highest security standards. This capability helps prevent identity theft and new account fraud (NAF) by detecting suspicious behavior, such as changes in typing rhythm, screen focus shifts, or abnormal response times. With just two interactions, Facephi can identify the real person behind each user with >99% accuracy in milliseconds. It also detects anomalies, assesses risk levels, and generates alerts, allowing businesses to easily configure the system to automatically handle fraud cases. About Facephi Facephi is a technology company specializing in digital identity protection and verification, recognized for its commitment to data security and integrity. Its solutions are designed to enable safer, more accessible, and fraud-free processes, prevent identity theft, and ensure ethical handling of personal data. With over a decade of experience developing technologies focused on digital identity protection, Facephi is headquartered in Spain with offices across APAC, EMEA, and LATAM. The company serves clients in more than 25 countries worldwide, with over 500 million transactions processed, offering innovative solutions to meet the ever-evolving challenges of digital security. More Information and ContactEvercom – facephi@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Italian Yacht Builder Ferretti Is Involved in an Espionage Case
International intrigue at one of the world's largest yacht builders? The Italian Ferretti Group was the setting for a spy-vs-spy scenario that reportedly included private detectives shadowing an executive of the Italian builder's primary Chinese investor and recording devices hidden in several offices, according to Bloomberg. The discovery of this board-level surveillance has prompted two criminal cases, now in the hands of Italian prosecutors. In April 2024, Xu Xinyu, an executive director at Ferretti SpA, noticed two men in an SUV outside Ferretti's headquarters in Milan. Xu also sits on the board of the Weichai Group, which acquired the Ferretti Group in 2102, when the builder of Riva Yachts, Custom Line, CRN, and other brands was in financial trouble. More from Robb Report Say Hello to Robb Report en Español, the New Benchmark for Global Luxury in Spanish A Luxe Midcentury Duplex in London's Mayfair Just Listed for $25 Million Red Sox Legend David Ortiz's Former Miami Mansion Lists for $11.5 Million Xu also observed the pair following him while visiting hotels in the city, Bloomberg reported. He hired a counter-surveillance company, which reportedly found a listening device and signal amplifier hidden in his office. Other devices were found in the offices of Ferretti's Chinese-Italian translator and board secretary. The story cites unnamed sources who claimed relations between Weichai and some executives at Ferretti had deteriorated because of a proposed stock buyback program that would have allowed the repurchase of 10 percent of the shares. The buyback plan was briefly examined by the Italian government under a special 'golden' provision that allows it to oversee 'strategic' Italian brands with foreign ownership. A very small percentage of Ferretti's boat production is for the defense sector, thereby placing it in the strategic category. The Chinese members of the Ferretti board, comprised of six Chinese and three Italians, were initially against the buyback proposal, according to the sources. That decision, according to Bloomberg, caused dissension between Ferretti CEO Alberto Galassi and some members of the board. In March 2024, Galassi formally notified the Italian oversight committee of the buyback initiative. But that was earlier than the Chinese directors had expected. Bloomberg's sources say they thought the Chinese board members worried that Galassi could be using 'the golden share rule to sideline them by seeking allies in the Italian government.' The stock buyback proposal was withdrawn by the end of the month. Ferretti issued a statement denying that Galassi had gone against the board's wishes, according to Bloomberg. It said the notification 'was carried out with the formal and definitive approval of the Board of Directors.' The statement went on to say that 'the relationship between the shareholders and the company is excellent, marked by ongoing collaboration and mutual respect.' Ferretti did not immediately respond to Robb Report's request for comment. Following the discovery of the surveillance on Xu and others, some of the board members reportedly suspected it might have originated with Ferretti's upper management. Xu initiated a criminal case against 'persons unknown' in May 2024, for unauthorized access to a computer system and unlawful interference in private life. In January 2025, following an internal investigation, the Ferretti Group filed its own complaint with the Milan prosecutor's office. 'Ferretti SpA considers itself an aggrieved party, having been wronged by the unlawful and improper installation of surveillance devices within its offices,' the statement said. Ferretti says there is no tension between it and Weichai. 'The shareholder and the company have enjoyed a relationship of mutual esteem and full, constructive collaboration for over 10 years,' the brand said in a statement to Bloomberg. The cases remain in the initial stages of investigation, with no certainty that any criminal charges will be pursued. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.

Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chase told to pay £150 to neurodivergent customer because app didn't have dark mode
A bank was ordered to pay a neurodivergent customer £150 after she complained that its app didn't have a dark mode. A Chase customer – known only as 'Mrs C' – said that the bank's app was more difficult to use because she couldn't toggle the background colour. Those with neurodivergence – a blanket term often used for conditions including autism and ADHD – sometimes prefer using dark mode as it is said to reduce distractions, making it easier for them to focus. Mrs C, who has complained about the bank before, said the lack of a dark mode option 'made her feel as though she didn't matter' in a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). She also claimed she has to use the app because an undisclosed disability means she cannot speak on the phone. An online FOS ruling, which found in her favour, said: 'For a bank to not have dark mode on their app disadvantages neurodivergent customers, including herself, and makes her feel not listened to and that Chase doesn't take accessibility for their customers seriously.' Chase told the FOS that changing the app to provide a dark mode would be a 'colossal and expensive task'. It also said that Mrs C had been a customer for more than a year when she complained in March 2024, and hadn't mentioned the lack of dark mode before. Ombudsman Nicolas Atkinson wrote: 'There are certain groups of customers who've found that 'dark mode' makes websites and apps, for example, more accessible to them. That includes, for example, people who are neurodiverse.' He added: 'I can see that Chase offers this to its card merchant services customers, so it's disappointing to see it say that this would be a colossal and expensive task when it has no evidence to back this up.' Chase had offered to pay Mrs C £50 after mistakenly calling her to discuss her complaint, despite knowing that she was unable to speak on the phone. But the bank was ordered to pay an extra £100 because of the lack of dark mode although the ombudsman admitted that it was 'not an ideal solution'. Some banks already have apps with dark modes. In March this year, Lloyds introduced it on its mobile app for iPhones, and Spanish bank BBVA has a similar feature. Dark modes, which turn the background of an app to a darker black or grey colour, rather than white, can reduce eye strain and keep phone batteries running for longer. Chase, which was launched in the UK in 2021, is a digital-only bank which offers current and savings accounts. It is owned by JPMorgan, America's largest bank. A spokesman for Chase said: 'We offer a range of different accessibility options based on the needs of our customers, and in line with our commitment to create accessible and inclusive products and services for all. 'While we don't currently offer dark mode in our app, customers can make colour adjustments on their mobile phones – including colour inversion which will make the Chase app 'dark', if the device allows and the customer chooses to.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data