Dateline Monday, March 7, 2011

The SIERRA CLUB, Atlantic Chapter

Will submit a Request to participate as a formal “Party” in the Article VII application
review by the Department of Public Service Commission for the proposed Champlain
Hudson Power Express Electric Transmission Cable (the Project).

The Project is a controversial power line proposal known as the CHE (Champlain
Hudson Express) is racing through multiple permitting processes to attemp a start of
construction by September 2011.

The 355-mile, 1,000-megawatt submarine power line will initate at the Hertel Substation
in Quebec, Canada, run under Lake Champlain, continue down the length of the Hudson
River, and end in the NY Metro region.

First proposed by Transmission Developers, Inc. (TDI) to the US Dept of Energy in

January 2010, this project does little in moving NYS towards a greener energy future.
The line is to be buried beneath the Hudson River, and will require dredging
and and environmental disruption.
The funding for the project is with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
subsidies – funds that are meant for progressing renewable energies and
modernizing the current power grid.

The project is being falsely advertised as a clean energy alternative (using

wind and hydro-power). However, this project requires the damming of
virgin Canadian rivers at the expense of the American taxpayer – green-
washing at its best. More importantly the term clean energy is not yet defined
by the federal government and in addition would benefit Canadian producers
and contribute little to American recovery aside from the temporary impacts
of construction that occurs in about ½ the project in New York State.

a) The project, as of January 2011, is rushing through the multiple permitting

processes in attempting to start construction by September 2011. The
transparency of the project has been very murky as the PSC and TDI have not
been forthcoming about when meetings are being held and are constantly
canceling/rescheduling meetings.
The project has applied for $1.52 billion in Recovery Act loan guarantees,
and states that it will transport the prerequisite renewable wind and/or hydro-
power into New York from facilities at Lower Churchill Falls, Canada. Those
facilities are still to be constructed. If and when new renewable energy
becomes available, that electricity could enter the NYISO market via the
existing transmission grid without this project.
Ultimately, the proposed TDI power line is a one-way monopoly that channels
trade-protected Canadian power into the high-use, but already well-supplied,
NY Metro market at disadvantages to Canadian and NYS merchants,
 residents, and the environment. The best way to provide clean, renewable
energy to the Metro-NY area is on-site generation – solar generation coupled
with assertive demand side reduction measures and energy efficiency
measures – not the transmission-only line proposed by TDI.
b) The Atlantic Chapter seeks a more thorough review of the project. If the
project demonstrates more detrimental aspects than benefits the Chapter goal
will be to stop the project. The funding should go towards renewable energy
and/or efficiency projects that will have a net positive impact on the
environment.
c) Sierra Club will be a major party involved in this issue. Without Sierra Club
involvement the line might pass as a renewable energy solution.
d) We will seek involvement with Sierra Club Canada and get their involvement
in this issue as it crosses country lines.

This report is