To the Editor: 

In his Nov. 25 letter to The Altamont Enterprise [“Keep the wealth of New York in the state”], Tom Ellis speaks out against the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a project that is a bold move in fighting the climate emergency.

CHPE will bring a significant amount of low-carbon energy right into downstate New York, where 86 percent of electricity will be generated from burning fossil fuels as of 2021. Downstate is where decarbonization is the most crucial and, until the major offshore wind and solar projects get up and running, our hydro can already start making a significant difference in carbon-emissions reductions, at a time when the scientific community is urging us to act quickly.

Scientific research has shown that hydropower, developed in a boreal region such as Québec, is among the best electricity-generating technologies available from an environmental-impact perspective. Hydropower has a greenhouse gas profile that’s very close to wind’s — and both are orders of magnitude below fossil fuel sources. For more information: https://tinyurl.com/y5gr4tkb.

Hydropower doesn’t destroy the environment or biodiversity. What does the science say? The natural sciences researcher Katrine Turgeon from the Université du Québec in Outaouais concluded that “hydroelectricity production in these remote boreal ecosystems caused little change in fish diversity.” Her article is available on line. Mr. Ellis doesn’t mention his scientific source on this question.

Earlier this month, an Indigenous nation, the Cree, published a press release entitled “Gratitude in Celebrating a Milestone,” celebrating the 45thanniversary of the signing of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. It’s a good read for someone who wants to hear an Indigenous point of view on the relationship.

In another recent news report, Cree officials told the story of Hydro-Québec engineers who listened to the late Tommy Neeposh, a 90-year-old leader of a Cree community, when he suggested a specific environmental measure on a hydropower project. The tunnel that he asked for now bears his name. That’s where we are today in our relationship with Indigenous nations: listening, cooperating and creating a better future for all of us.

Of course the energy that will flow into New York City has to come from a low-carbon source. Of course it has to be developed by mitigating environmental impact and working with local communities, including Indigenous nations, to ensure that it’s the best possible project. That’s Hydro-Québec’s approach, and that’s what we have to offer New York in its drive to decarbonize and fight climate change.

Gary Sutherland

Spokesman

Hydro-Québec

Montréal

Editor’s note: In a 4-to-1 vote, the Guilderland Town Board on Aug. 4 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.