A project that will see clean hydropower from Canada delivered into the heart of New York City, US, has taken a step forward following news that the State Public Service Commission has approved contracts with H.Q. Energy Services Inc. for the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE).
The contract approval was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, at the same time as it was announced that contracts had been approved with Clean Path New York LLC for its Clean Path NY project.
The state's first-of-its-kind renewable energy and transmission projects are expected to deliver up to $5.8 billion in overall societal benefits statewide, including greenhouse gas reductions and air quality improvements, and $8.2 billion in economic development across the state, including investments in disadvantaged communities. Further, when built these projects will help protect against volatile fossil fuel price fluctuations and stabilize long-term energy costs.
As the largest transmission projects contracted for New York State in the last 50 years, these projects will reduce the city's reliance on fossil fuel-fired generation by more than 50% t in 2030. The announcement accelerates progress to exceed New York State's goal for 70 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid by 2040 as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Back in October 2021, Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers were selected to partner with New York state to help achieve the clean energy transition through the CHPE.
The CHPE project involves the construction of an underground and underwater transmission line spanning approximately 339 miles between the Canada-US border and New York City. It will allow an influx of 1250MW of hydropower and comes with a long list of economic benefits, including the $40 million Green Economy Fund, designed to support residents living in disadvantaged and frontline communities by providing them with new job training opportunities that will help them take advantage of New York’s transition to a green economy and the $117 million Environmental Trust Fund, which is focused on improving the health of Lake Champlain and the Hudson and Harlem Rivers.
