These letters actually don't indicate the paradox you're talking about. The New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project by itself doesn't create any additional renewable generation; it just brings hydropower being produced in Canada into the United States. If Canada replaces that hydropower with power from renewable generation, the project will be a plus for the environment. But the letter writer says Canada will replace it with "more dirty energy," which will make it a minus for the environment.

This scene has played out over and over again across the US. Everyone wants to go green, everyone wants to decarbonize the country, everybody supports solar and wind and batteries, etc. As long as it doesn't get built where they live, its great. It is utterly amazing how many good projects have died on the cutting room floor because people decide that even though it's good for society, they don't want it where they live. Imagine if that attitude was pervasive back in the 50s when president Eisenhower announced plans to build the Interstate highway system across this country. If you tried to do that today you'd never get anything built. Until someone has the intestinal fortitude to exercise eminent domain many projects are never going to see the light of day.