To the Editor:
For more than 10 years, I have opposed construction of the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission corridor (powerline) from the Canadian border to New York city through the Capital Region. Sections of CHPE would be buried in trenches under Lake Champlain and the Hudson, Harlem, and East rivers, and terrestrial sections in seven counties, including Albany.

New York City-based environmental justice groups want building energy efficiency and local jobs to reduce emissions. CHPE became an issue during the recent New York City primaries for mayor, comptroller, borough presidents, and city council. Hopefully the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will choose appropriately-sited in-state renewable energy instead of CHPE.

Why are two major Hudson River protection groups (Sloop Clearwater and Scenic Hudson) not engaged in protecting the Hudson from CHPE? The Sloop Clearwater has never taken a stand on CHPE despite Pete Seeger’s strong activism blocking river-wrecking hydropower imports from Canada.

Scenic Hudson signed on to the April 18, 2013 stipulation with Hudson Riverkeeper, CHPE developers, and Trout Unlimited that allowed the New York State Public Service Commission to issue the CHPE permit. Scenic Hudson and Riverkeeper issued a joint news release the same day titled “Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson Support New York State Public Service Commission Approval of Champlain Hudson Power Express.”

A few years ago, Scenic Hudson’s president told me that Scenic Hudson neither supports nor opposes CHPE. Scenic Hudson emailed me last summer saying Scenic Hudson “has never supported” CHPE.

Hudson Riverkeeper issued a November 2019 statement withdrawing its support for CHPE, but subsequently said it will not legally withdraw from the 2013 stipulation. Thus Hudson Riverkeeper has not fully withdrawn its CHPE support.

In a hopeful signal, Hudson Riverkeeper emailed Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 12, saying the Hudson River “should not be subject to unnecessary impacts as we move toward reliance on renewable energy sources. Using the river as a conduit for electrical cables could mobilize PCBs and other contaminants during construction, posing a particular concern for drinking water supplies that are reliant on river water.

“In addition, during operation, such cables have sparked concerns in the shipping industry that emergency anchoring could snag a cable. Finally, there is a growing body of evidence that magnetic fields generated by in-water cables will inhibit the ability of fish to navigate … we oppose the CHPE cable in part because it would supply Canadian hydropower, which is inherently damaging to rivers, has had major negative impacts in indigenous peoples, and is far more carbon intensive than either wind or solar.”

The July 12 letter is a big step forward for Hudson Riverkeeper and hopefully the launch of an active anti-CHPE campaign. Withdrawing from the 2013 stipulation is also needed.

If and when Hudson Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson fully withdraw their CHPE support, and post strong opposition on their websites, Sloop Clearwater might join them, and a united anti-CHPE coalition would exist among these Hudson River protection groups.

Defeating CHPE would also likely prevent the proposed Empire Connector or any other transmission line developer from using the proposed CHPE right-of-way in the Hudson River.

Tom Ellis

Albany

Editor’s note: In a 4-to-1 vote, the Guilderland Town Board on Aug. 4, 2020 passed a resolution that will let the Champlain Hudson Power Express Inc. run underground lines through the town to bring electric power from Canada to the New York City area.