By William Opalka

The New Hampshire siting board said Thursday it needs more time to consider the Northern Pass transmission line, pushing back its decision until Sept. 30, 2017.

The state’s Site Evaluation Committee, following guidelines in state law, originally thought it would wrap up its review by the end of the year. (See Committee Rules Northern Pass Application Complete.)

But the Society for the Preservation of New Hampshire Forests, citing the complexity of the case, filed a motion asking for a suspension of the normal schedule. The committee agreed.

Committee Chair Martin Honigberg said it was “unrealistic” to complete the review by the end of the year, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. He said September 2017 “was probably the right date” and didn’t anticipate any further delay.

The 192-mile, $1.6 billion project would bring 1,090 MW of Canadian hydropower into New England. Project developer Eversource Energy, which had hoped to begin construction next year and have the line in operation in 2019, called the decision “disappointing.”

“It will only delay the realization of the substantial benefits of this project in New Hampshire and throughout New England,” Bill Quinlan, president of Eversource’s New Hampshire operations, said in a statement. “We look forward to the written order outlining the details of this schedule and in the meantime will be evaluating our options for seeking reconsideration.”

Eversource had agreed to bury 60 miles of the line, but preservationists and advocates for the state’s tourist industry had opposed the impact of the line on the natural environment and wanted the entire project underground.

“We applaud the SEC subcommittee’s decision to extend the timeframe to consider the Northern Pass application. It will improve the process. Taking an appropriate amount of time to consider all of the impacts a 192-mile transmission line would have on New Hampshire makes sense,” Jack Savage, spokesman for the forest society, said in a statement.