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For Immediate Release: 06/20/2024 Rory M. Christian, Chair and Chief Executive Officer Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080 24050/10-T-0139 June 20, 2024
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PSC Approves Amendment and Environmental Management and Construction Plan for the Champlain Hudson Project |
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Siting Changes Made to Underwater Cable from Canada to NYC in Portions of Hudson River Amendment Will Not Change Any Anticipated Impacts on the Environment or River Navigation
ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today amended the permit issued to Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. and CHPE Properties, Inc. (Champlain Hudson) with respect to cable installation requirements within the maintained Federal navigation channel in the Hudson River and approved the corresponding environmental management and construction plan for cable installation within the Hudson River. The approved amendment requires a 9-foot separation between the federally authorized depth of the Federal navigation channel and the top of the cables.
“Approving this change will help the development of the Champlain Hudson project,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “In addition to helping ensure a clean energy future, the Champlain Hudson project plays a key role in our comprehensive plan to modernize our State's transmission system so that it delivers clean energy to all New Yorkers, while advancing our climate goals and creating clean-energy jobs.”
The Champlain Hudson project is a high voltage, direct current transmission line extending approximately 330 miles from the New York/Canada border to a converter station in Astoria, Queens County. On February 9, 2024, the project developers filed a petition with respect to the cable installation requirement within the maintained Federal navigation channel in the Hudson River. Project developers said the amendment would resolve an inconsistency between the original certificate, which requires 15 feet of separation from the federally authorized depth to the top of the cables, and the permit issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which requires a separation distance of 9 feet from the federally authorized depth of the Federal navigation channel to the top of the cables.
The developers also said the amendment was needed due to engineering and environmental constraints that make it impracticable to achieve 15 feet of separation between the federally authorized depth of the Federal navigation channel to the top of the cables in particular locations along the Hudson River.
After reviewing the public comments that were received, and the existing permit requirements of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Commission approved the amendment request. In its determination, the Commission found that the change to the separation requirement within the maintained Federal navigation channel in the Hudson River will not result in any material change in environmental impacts or a substantial change in location.
In conjunction with the approval of the petition amendment, the Commission approved plans for Segment 19B, which includes pre-installation grapnel runs, and installation and protection of underwater high voltage direct current cables in the Hudson River. Segment 19B is divided into two geographic areas: (1) the Cementon-Stony Point Hudson Marine Segment, which is approximately 67.5 miles long beginning in the Town of Catskill, Greene County, and ending in the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County, and (2) the Congers-Harlem Hudson Marine Segment, which is approximately 21.6-miles long beginning in the Hamlet of Congers, Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County, and ending at the confluence of the Harlem River.
Construction of the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, being developed by Transmission Developers Inc, to deliver reliable clean energy from Hydro-Québec in Canada directly to New York City, is underway. The project is expected to bring $3.5 billion in economic benefits to New Yorkers while creating nearly 1,400 family-sustaining union jobs during construction and was competitively selected under Tier 4 of the State’s Clean Energy Standard, as a key project that will help achieve New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to obtain 70 percent of electricity statewide from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid.
The project is expected to power over one million homes and will reduce carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons statewide, the equivalent of taking over half a million cars off the road every year. The transmission line is expected to be fully operational in the spring of 2026.
In related news, the Commission also approved Champlain Hudson’s request for three changes to their construction plans for segments in Albany, Washington and Saratoga counties to shift the cable alignment and associated construction activities outside the approved deviation zone, which includes relocating a horizontal directional drill entry pit to provide an appropriate offset from National Grid guy wires, and to provide adequate clearance for future State Route 9W bridge replacement and work on Canadian Pacific Railroad property.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is advancing a suite of efforts – including the New York Cap-and-Invest program (NYCI) and other complementary policies – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. New York is also on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $28 billion in 61 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the State, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 170,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector as of 2022 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with more than 400 registered and more than 130 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the State to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 10-T-0139 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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