CHINA -- The Central Maine Power Company seeks to widen its power line right-of-way through China and adjoining towns by 20-feet and to install new poles and a transmission line.

The utility made a presented its plan at Tuesday's Planning Board meeting.

Speaking on behalf of CMP, Kay Rand, of Bernstein-Shur Government Solutions LLC, said the current transmission system, dating from 1971, is nearly obsolete.

The line through China runs from Wiscasset, where the Maine Yankee nuclear-power plant supplied most of Maine's electricity until it closed in 1996, to Orrington, where Central Maine Power and Bangor Hydroelectric Co. connect.

Rand, a monthly columnist for the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel's Opinion Pages, said the plan to expand transmission facilities requires approval from ISO New England, the operator of the regional power grid, the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection, and about 80 municipalities.

Many municipalities, including China, have a 35-foot height limit in their ordinances. Because power poles are higher than 35-feet, Rand asked board members to prepare an amendment to the ordinance.

Rand said power-company representatives asked Maine Municipal Association to seek municipal officials' opinions on a state law that would exempt utility poles from local height limits.

The association issued the query, reaction was unfavorable "and here we are," Rand said.

The next chance to ask voters to approve a change in China's land-use code will be in November.

At the March town-business meeting, voters authorized selectmen to sell two strips of town land adjacent to the power line right-of-way to the power company.

While awaiting permits, Rand said, power-company contractors and employees are talking with landowners about acquiring land to widen the right-of-way and are doing environmental studies, with landowners' permission.

The company has limited power of eminent domain -- only with Public Utilities Commission approval and not within 300-feet of a house -- but prefers not to use it, Rand said.