NYS announces renewable energy incentives for projects that would damage the Hudson: A shameful use of public money
September 20, 2021
Riverkeeper Team
New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced two energy infrastructure projects to power New York City: the Clean Path NY (CPNY) project, developed by Forward Power (a joint venture of Invenergy and EnergyRe) and the New York Power Authority, and Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project, developed by Transmission Developers, Inc. (backed by Blackstone) and Hydro-Québec.
The projects were selected for contract negotiation as part of the New York State Energy Research Development and Authority's (NYSERDA) Tier 4 renewable energy solicitation. Once finalized, NYSERDA will submit the negotiated contracts for these awarded projects to New York's Public Service Commission for consideration and approval.
Dan Shapley, Interim VP of Programs & Interim Hudson Riverkeeper, said:
"Transmission of renewable energy to NYC is essential, but it's dismaying that the state has selected two projects that would damage the Hudson River as a consequence. By choosing the Champlain Hudson Power Express particularly, Governor Hochul chose the most environmentally damaging and unjust project among the seven. The project would incentivize more unsustainable hydroelectric power that harms indigenous communities in Canada, send New York's energy dollars out of our country, and turn hundreds of miles of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain into a construction site. It's a shameful use of public money to subsidize this project over viable competitors."
Earlier: Electric cable projects vie to bring power to NYC – with enormous stakes for the Hudson & Indigenous communities
