9.19.23 - Canadian hydropower line still on schedule, despite cost increases
' The developers of a transmission line that is essential to meeting New York’s clean energy goals and shutting down polluting New York City power plants say they’re still on track to finish construction in 2026 — despite pushing for nearly $3 billion in increased ratepayer subsidies.
The recent ask by the Champlain Hudson Power Express is the latest effort by renewable energy companies to press New York regulators for more public aid for their projects — putting the state in an increasingly difficult bind as it steams toward ambitious climate goals by 2030.
The New York-based company told the state Public Service Commission in regulatory filings last month that it would be “arbitrary and capricious” and violate state contract law if other clean energy projects got more money and they did not.
But unlike some wind projects and others seeking more subsidies, the Blackstone-backed developers aren’t threatening to walk away from the project. They aren’t explicitly vowing legal action, either.
"The principle of treating similarly situated parties equitably is firmly established in New York law and is good policy. That is the fundamental point of our petition,” said Champlain Hudson Power Express spokesperson Chris Singleton in a statement.
“Our focus is not on bringing lawsuits or claims; rather, we are focused on encouraging the Commission to treat all renewable energy developers fairly and equally because we have all faced the same costly headwinds of inflation and supply chain disruptions."
Still, the 339-mile project that will snake from Canada down the eastern New York border to New York City is critical to the state's effort to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030.
The 1,250 MW power line is expected to provide 12 percent of the renewable energy needed to meet New York’s statutory goal in less than seven years.'