First approval in Québec for the New York interconnection line - Québec’s Régie de l’énergie gives the green light to the project

In a decision issued this week, Québec’s Régie de l’énergie authorized construction of the Hertel–New York interconnection line, which will connect with the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE).

This decision follows a 7-month assessment.

The project involves building a transmission line nearly 58 km long between Hertel substation in La Prairie and an interconnection point with the CHPE in the Rivière Richelieu at the Canada–United States border.

The permitting process by government authorities is still underway. The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement recently announced that it had been mandated to conduct targeted consultations in the regional county municipalities of Roussillon, Le Haut-Richelieu and Les Jardins-de-Napierville as of December 12, 2022. The Hertel–New York project will also be reviewed by the Canada Energy Regulator, given that it involves cross-border energy transmission.

The CHPE transmission line will deliver 1,250 megawatts of clean hydropower generated by Hydro-Québec to New York City and thus reduce carbon emissions by approximately 3.9 million metric tons per year—the equivalent of taking 44% of the cars currently circulating in the city’s streets off the road. Since greenhouse gas emissions know no borders, this project aimed at fighting climate change will benefit everyone.

The CHPE line also has huge long-term sales potential for Hydro-Québec, since it will provide the company with direct access to New York City, which constitutes one of the world’s largest economic centers.