Energy companies partner to propose hydro and Upstate New York renewable solutions

Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers, Inc. have proposed generation and transmission solutions that will help New York State meet its renewable energy and climate emissions reduction goals under its nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

The solution includes supplying New York City with clean power from Upstate New York and from Canada, delivered over a new transmission line. The companies made these proposals in response to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Tier 4 renewable energy procurement process.

Hydro-Québec has partnered with Transmission Developers Inc. to develop the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), which would link Hydro-Québec’s existing hydropower facilities and upstate renewable generation to New York City. The proposals submitted to NYSERDA offer the following alternatives:

• 100 per cent clean hydropower deliveries from Québec over the new direct transmission line.
• A combination of New York renewable energy and Québec clean hydroelectricity via an additional converter station, or on-ramp, to be constructed in New Scotland, NY.

These proposals would supply New York City with up to 1,250 megawatts of renewable power; enough electricity for over 1.2 million homes. It will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3.9 million metric tons annually, equivalent to removing 44 per cent of cars from New York City streets.

The permitted CHPE transmission line is advanced to begin construction in 2021, and commence operations and begin reducing generation from downstate fossil fuel plants by 2025. The new transmission line is underground or underwater, originating in southern Québec, and making its way under Lake Champlain and the Hudson and Harlem rivers to a substation in Astoria, Queens.

“Hydro-Québec has supplied New York State with clean, always-on, affordable hydropower for decades,” said Sophie Brochu, President and CEO, Hydro-Québec. “The CHPE proposal can expand this relationship to help the state and city meet their world-leading climate goals, all the while supporting the coordinated U.S.-Canada approach to encourage the development of cross-border clean electricity transmission.”