Hydro-Québec announces route of electric corridor to New York
Canada, Montreal: Hydro-Québec has unveiled the route of its Hertel-New York interconnection line, with the construction beginning in spring 2023 in Montreal.
Image source: Montreal Gazette
Canada, Montreal: Hydro-Québec has unveiled the route of its Hertel-New York interconnection line, with the construction beginning in spring 2023 in Montreal.
The project will see 1,250 MW of Quebec hydroelectricity exported to New York City as of 2025. The 25-year contract is Hydro-Québec’s largest export contract. The company has not published revenue projections, but Quebec Premier François Legault said in September it was worth $20 B.
The route runs 56 km underground through the Montérégie municipalities of La Prairie, St-Philippe, St-Jacques-le-Mineur, St-Édouard, St-Patrice-de-Sherrington, St-Cyprien-de-Napierville, St-Bernard-de-Lacolle and Lacolle. It includes a 24 km segment along Highway 15.
At the border is a 1.6 km underwater segment where the Richelieu River meets Lake Champlain, and then a 545 km line toward New York City.
“Over the past few months, Hydro-Québec has carried out technical and environmental studies and spoken with community representatives, environmental groups, Indigenous communities, property owners potentially affected by the project, and residents of the study area,” the utility said. “Throughout the many discussions held, the project and the line routes under study were presented and concerns were taken into consideration. The public consultation process resulted in a better project and one that is tailored to the realities of the host communities.”
Once put into service, the project will be a partnership between Hydro-Québec and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, which will see economic spinoffs over 40 years, the utility said.
Source: Montreal Gazette