Canada Power Line Now Lighting 1 Million New York Homes

One million New York City homes are now running on clean hydropower thanks to a massive new transmission line that just went live.

The Champlain Hudson Power Express stretches 339 miles from Montreal to Queens, making it the longest fully buried transmission line in North America. Construction crews placed the entire line underground and underwater to protect the environment and avoid disrupting communities along the route.

The project solves a real problem for New York City. When the Indian Point nuclear plant closed, the city had to rely more heavily on gas-fired power plants to keep the lights on. Now, this new line delivers 10.4 terawatt-hours of clean energy annually, meeting up to 20% of the city's electricity needs.

Governor Kathy Hochul called it a "game changer" for keeping costs down while building a cleaner future. The numbers back her up: experts project the line will lower electricity costs statewide by $17 billion over its first 25 years of operation.

The project team broke ground in 2022 after winning approval from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Transmission Developers Inc. partnered with Hydro-Québec to build the 1,250-megawatt High Voltage Direct Current line, which connects to the grid at a newly expanded substation in Queens.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond powering homes, the $3.4 billion project is creating lasting opportunities in disadvantaged communities. A $40 million Green Economy Fund has already distributed $2 million to organizations focused on workforce development and job retraining, helping people enter the clean energy field.

The strategic decision to bury the entire transmission line pays dividends for decades. Underground and underwater cables face less exposure to storms and extreme weather, increasing long-term reliability for millions of people who depend on steady power.

New York families now have access to consistent, clean electricity that doesn't depend on burning fossil fuels. The infrastructure built today will serve communities for generations, proving that ambitious climate projects can deliver real results right now.