Champlain Hudson Power Express Opens Second Request for Proposals for Green Economy Fund

Champlain Hudson Power Express Opens Second Request for Proposals for Green Economy Fund

RFP launches August 14th to support workforce training and wrap-around services for New Yorkers looking to access and build careers in the green economy

Inaugural RFP in 2023 Resulted in $750,000 in awards to four organizations serving disadvantaged workers in NY state

New York, NY – The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) today announced the opening of the second Request for Proposals (RFP) for its Green Economy Fund (GEF), a $40 million, 20-year initiative dedicated to supporting New York State’s disadvantaged communities, low-income individuals, and transitioning fossil fuel workers to careers in the green economy.

The GEF provides funding to organizations and projects that prepare workers for sustainable careers in the green economy, so that no New Yorkers are left behind by the state’s transition to clean energy.

The GEF invites applications from organizations or projects that focus on:

• Initiatives that link disadvantaged and low-income New Yorkers to good jobs in the green economy with sustainable wages. Funding is available for direct training costs, wrap-around services, and general operating expenses.
• Organizations offering critical support services to workers from target communities. These services may include transportation, technology access, participant stipends, mentorship, and childcare, enabling individuals to connect to and sustain themselves in good jobs and training programs.
• Efforts by organizations to build partnerships with employers, creating pipelines for participants in training or job readiness programs.
• Community colleges and other educational institutions that provide adult basic education and the qualifications needed for union apprenticeships and job training programs with employer partnerships in the green economy.

“The Green Economy Fund(GEF) is working to ensure that New York State’s transition to a green economy is inclusive and equitable,” said Laura Gibson, Director of Workforce Development at Transmission Developers. “The programs and organizations supported by the GEFwill play a vital role in providing the necessary training and support services to help individuals from disadvantaged communities build sustainable careers. We look forward to receiving proposals from organizations that will make a lasting impact on communities.”

“The Green Economy Fund is a long-term investment in New York’s underserved communities” said Hydro-Quebec Energy Services Chief Operating Officer Serge Abergel. “We’re proud to support workforce training and wrap-around services that will increase access to jobs in the energy transition.”

Interested organizations can find detailed information on the application process by visiting the CHPE Green Economy Fund website. All questions related to the RFP can be directed to GEF@rockpa.org. Submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, October 1st, 2024.

This RFP follows the successful distribution of $750,000 to organizations who applied for funding during the initial RFP in 2023. Recipients included Pathways to Apprenticeship, Stacks + Joules, Nontraditional Employment for Women, and the NYC District Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Journeyman Retraining Educational & Industry Fund (AJREIF).

About the Champlain Hudson Power Express

CHPE involves the construction of an underground and underwater transmission line spanning approximately 339 miles between the Canada–U.S. border and New York City.

CHPE will also provide competitively priced hydropower from Québec that is expected to lower climate emissions and local air pollutants,  as well as electricity generation costs throughout the state by $17 billion over the first 25 years of operation, all the while providing increased reliability and resiliency for the downstate grid. The project also provides a total of $3.5 billion in economic benefits to New Yorkers and creates approximately 1,400 family-sustaining jobs during construction, with a commitment to use union labor. CHPE will provide an economic boost to 73 municipalities and 59 school districts throughout New York State with an increase in incremental tax revenue of $1.4 billion in funding for local communities over the first 25 years of the project.