Opinion ID: 4516935
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: NextEra’s Standing to Appeal

Text: [¶13] The Industrial Energy Consumer Group contends that NextEra lacks standing to bring this appeal.11 “The right to appeal from an administrative decision is governed by statute. Whether a party has standing 10 One of the commissioners filed a separate opinion but joined in the outcome. NextEra contends that this argument was not preserved. However, standing is “an issue 11 cognizable at any stage of a legal proceeding,” including on appeal. Bank of America, N.A. v. Greenleaf, 2015 ME 127, ¶ 8, 124 A.3d 1122. 8 depends on the wording of the specific statute involved.” Nelson v. Bayroot, LLC, 2008 ME 91, ¶ 9, 953 A.2d 378 (citation omitted). [¶14] Section 1320 governs this Court’s review of Commission action and grants statutory standing to appeal to “[a]ny person who has participated in commission proceedings, and who is adversely affected by the final decision of the commission.” 35-A M.R.S. § 1320(2) (2018). There is no question that NextEra participated in the commission proceedings; therefore, the only issue in dispute is whether NextEra is “adversely affected” by the order granting CMP’s petition for the NECEC project. See id. [¶15] NextEra contends that the order adversely affects its Maine-based wind and solar affiliates in a number of ways. While recognizing that the Commission found “little merit” to some of these concerns, we are nonetheless satisfied that NextEra is adversely affected by the Commission’s decision in other ways and therefore satisfies section 1320’s standing requirements. See id.