The Canada Energy Regulator authorizes construction of the Hertel–New York line

Main authorizations now obtained

Yesterday, the Canada Energy Regulator issued the permit authorizing the construction of the Hertel–New York interconnection line that will link to the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) line, currently under construction in the United States.

As the new interconnection will cross an international border, the Hertel–New York line had to be assessed by the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).

Earlier this week, the Québec government published an Order in Council authorizing the project. This decision follows a 16-month environmental assessment process and sustained collaboration between Hydro-Québec and the communities affected by the project.

The Hertel–New York project was approved by the Régie de l’énergie du Québec in November 2022. It was also subject to a targeted consultation process by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE), which has declared itself satisfied with the company’s explanations and commitments in response to concerns from the farming community.

Hertel–New York interconnection project

The Hertel–New York project involves building a 58-km transmission line between Hertel substation in La Prairie and an interconnection point in the Rivière Richelieu at the Canada–U.S. border. This line will link with the CHPE line, whose construction began in the State of New York in December 2022. The commissioning of these installations is scheduled for May 2026.

With a capacity of 1,250 MW, these two lines will make it possible to supply clean hydroelectricity generated by Hydro-Québec to New York City. This will reduce the city’s carbon emissions by approximately 3.9 million metric tons per year—the equivalent of taking 44% of the cars currently circulating in the streets of New York City off the road.