Construction Progress
Construction Overview
Construction of the Champlain Hudson Power Express® (CHPE) officially began on November 30, 2022, and will continue through mid-2026, when CHPE becomes operational and begins delivering clean, renewable energy directly to New York City.
The project involves close collaboration and coordination with Hydro Quebec (HQ), which is building an approximately 58km (~36mile) underwater and underground transmission line from the Hertel substation in La Prairie, Quebec to an interconnection point with CHPE in the Rivière Richelieu, at the Canada–New York border. More information on the Hertel-New York interconnection line is available on Hydro Quebec’s website here.
Construction Technology
The CHPE project uses time-tested high-voltage direct current (HVDC) energy transmission cable technology that transmits power over long distances more efficiently than alternating current (AC) transmission. CHPE HVDC cables are being installed for ~339miles underground and underwater from Lake Champlain at the U.S-Canada border to a converter station in Astoria, Queens, where the HVDC power will be converted to AC power so it can be injected into New York City's energy grid for local distribution.
Overall Construction Progress
As of September 2025, construction of CHPE is on schedule for an in-service date of May 2026. Broken down, the project has completed:
- Over 102 miles of trenching (99% complete)
- 77 miles of horizonal directional drilling bores (99% complete)
- 530 wire pulls (95% complete)
- Over 192 miles of cable laid in New York State waterways
- Approximately 96% of the construction of a new converter station in Queens
Interactive Project Map*
*Data displayed in the map represents the most current information and was last updated 10/31/2025.
Construction Photos
Lake Champlain Installation CHPE crews finish laying the final stretch of cable in Lake Champlain and prepare to pull the cable on land in Putnam Station in August 2025. | Congers Cable Pull-In Vessels are arranged in the Hudson River to successfully prepare to pull the cable from the river to land in Congers, NY. | Lake Champlain Cable Laying CHPE cable laying vessel prepares to pass under the Lake Champlain Bridge near Crown Point, NY in August 2025. |
Astoria Converter Station The AC yard is assembled at CHPE converter station in Astoria in August 2025. | Project Restoration A bike path is successfully restored in Kingsbury, NY. | Electrical Testing An aerial view of a successful in-field test of more than 130 circuit miles of HVDC cables and joints in Upstate New York in July 2025. |
Marine Cable Splicing HVDC cables that have been spliced together are lifted in preparation for installation in Lake Champlain. | Hudson River Installation The Ariadne laying cable in the Hudson River in August 2025. | Converter Station DC Hall  The DC Hall at the Astoria converter station, which is on track for mechanical completion in the fall of 2025. |
Terrestrial Cable Installation
CHPE’s underground cable installation work is progressing on schedule. This work includes clearing trees and growth, digging the trench and installing the conduit (dig, lay, backfill) that will house CHPE’s cables, performing horizontal directional drilling (HDD) used to go under large obstacles and avoid environmentally sensitive areas, and pulling and splicing cables together.
As of September 2025, over 102 miles of trenching has been completed, representing 99% of the project’s total. Approximately 99% of the project’s HDD pilot holes have been drilled and more than 95% of the cable has been pulled and is in place. All of the work performed has been approved by New York State and detailed plans for each construction segment along CHPE's route, known as Environmental Management & Construction Plans (EM&CPs) are available here.
Rockland County Construction
To avoid an environmentally sensitive area in the Hudson River, CHPE exits the Hudson River and is being buried underground in Rockland County. Construction started in July 2024, and as of September 2025, all of the HDDs are complete and 80% of dig lay backfill work is complete. The majority of the dig lay backfill work along Route 9W in Rockland is being performed at night.
CHPE hosts an office in Rockland County dedicated to community engagement and outreach, located at 1 Railroad Square, Haverstraw, NY 10927. The office is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday and anyone who has questions or who is interested in learning more about the project is encouraged to visit.
Those interested in receiving an electronic newsletter containing Rockland County specific construction updates can sign up here.
New York Metro Construction
Astoria Converter Station
Construction of CHPE’s converter station in Astoria, Queens began in the summer of 2023, following extensive site remediation - marking the first ever conversion of a fossil-fuel site into a grid-scale zero-emissions facility in New York City.
As of September 2025, converter station progress remains on schedule with approximately 96% of the project complete. All of the necessary components have been manufactured, and installation of high voltage equipment is underway. The new state-of-the-art station is slated to be online in 2026.
The Astoria-Rainey Cable
To properly disburse the power from CHPE into New York City’s power grid, a 3.5-mile buried high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable is being constructed in Astoria, Queens that is known as the Astoria-Rainey Cable (ARC). As of September 2025, 84% of necessary excavation and shoring is finished and over 67% of duct bank has been installed. Major construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Marine Cable Installation
In August of 2024, installation of CHPE's marine cables in Lake Champlain and the Hudson River began. This installation work followed a Spring 2024 campaign that installed concrete mattresses in specific locations in Lake Champlain and the Hudson River to protect the cables and other submarine infrastructure. Marine cable installation commenced again in the Spring/Summer of 2025.
As of September 2025, all submarine cable has been laid in the New York State waterways of Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, and the Harlem River, with post-lay cable burial, protection work, and survey activities ongoing.
For more information on how cable is installed in the Hudson River, please see this webinar.
Want Further Technical Information?
Click here for more information on approved EM&CP filings and specific details for each portion of CHPE’s route.
Got Construction Questions?
Call: 1-800-991-CHPE (2473)
Email: publicoutreach@chpexpress.com
Send comments & questions via CHPE's Construction Comments and Questions Form
Page Last Updated: September 2025