11.10.23 - New York City’s best hope for clean energy this decade forges ahead
' ALBANY, N.Y. — A transmission line that represents New York City’s best hope for quickly shutting down polluting fossil fuel plants and slashing emissions backed down on a request for bigger subsidies.
The Champlain Hudson Power Express’ developers withdrew their petition asking the state’s utility regulator to increase ratepayer-funded payments for the 339-mile line earlier this month. Construction on the line to carry Canadian hydropower into New York City continues, assuaging concerns about the viability of the fully permitted project that’s expected to come online in 2026.
Clean Path New York, another transmission line, also withdrew its request and is expected to come online in 2027. But that project hasn’t yet received permits to begin construction.
The companies’ “decision to withdraw their petitions for inflation adjustments is great news because it indicates their continued commitment to advancing these critical … projects on schedule,” said Chris Casey, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The 1,250-megawatt Champlain Hudson Power Express will provide about 20 percent of New York City's electricity demand — or enough to power about 1 million homes. It’s expected to support the state’s target of 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030, supplying nearly 7 percent of the forecasted load in that year.
With the developers of the state’s early offshore wind projects threatening to walk away if they can’t secure higher prices from NYSERDA, the Champlain Hudson Power Express, or CHPE, is the largest and most advanced clean energy project expected to plug into the downstate electric grid before 2030.
“The timely completion of [these projects] will be massive steps forward for New York’s clean energy transition that will enhance reliability while stabilizing energy prices made volatile by fossil fuels and delivering significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution,” Casey said. '