Transmission Line Project Provides Significant Statewide Environmental, Economic Benefits

Earth Week Begins April 22 Through April 26

ALBANY — In celebration of Earth Week, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved two segments of the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission, a 339-mile transmission line being developed by Transmission Developers Inc., to deliver reliable clean energy from Canada directly to New York City.  Additionally, the Commission approved changes to previously approved segments and an amendment to the project’s Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need.

“The Champlain Hudson project reinforces the backbone of our energy system,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “In addition to helping ensure a clean energy future, projects such as these are strengthening the safety and reliability of the transmission system. Champlain Hudson will play 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 critically important transmission line is expected to bring $3.5 billion in economic benefits to New Yorkers while creating nearly 1,400 family-sustaining union jobs during construction. The project was competitively selected under Tier 4 of the State’s Clean Energy Standard and is considered 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 1,250-megawatt project is expected to power more than 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. Earth Week this year runs from April 22 to April 26.

The Tier 4 program is part of the Commission’s Clean Energy Standard, which is designed to cost effectively and responsibly facilitate the delivery of a significant increase of renewable energy to the New York City, an area of the State that relies on aging fossil fuel-fired generation located largely in under-served communities. These communities experience the most significant air quality issues and health impacts from fossil fuel emissions and has a marked need for improved grid reliability and resiliency.

One of the segments approved today runs under Lake Champlain. This 96.5-mile segment begins at the US-Canadian border in the Village of Rouses Point, Town of Champlain, Clinton County, New York and ends in the Hamlet of Putnam Station, Town of Putnam, Washington County. In addition to the Lake Champlain segment, the Commission also approved an approximately 3.5 mile-segment of underground transmission running between the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) Rainey Substation located in Long Island City, Queens and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Astoria Annex located in Astoria, Queens. Further, the Commission will allow the developer to make changes in the previously approved construction plans of segments being built in the towns of Ballston, Saratoga County, and Stony Point, Rockland County.  These approved changes primarily involve shifts in the alignment outside of the project’s allowable deviation zone at four distinct locations. The Commission also granted the developer’s request to approve changes to an approximately 0.8-mile segment of the project route in the Town and Village of Catskill, Greene County.

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%, with a goal of 40%, 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% by 2030 and 85% by 2050 from 1990 levels. New York is also on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70% 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 $40 billion in 64 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% 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.