Construction Progress
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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 will be 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 June 2025, construction of CHPE is on schedule for an in-service date of May 2026. Broken down, the project has completed:
- 92 miles of trenching (89% complete)
- 75 miles of horizonal directional drilling bores (97% complete)
- 346 wire pulls (62% complete)
- Over 130 miles of cable laid in New York State waterways
- Over 78% 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 5/8/2025.
Astoria Dig Lay Backfill Crews use wooden shoring to install duct bank which will house conduit for the Astoria-Rainey Cable in Queens, NY. | Astoria-Rainey Cable Transport Cable that will be installed in Queens as part of the Astoria-Rainey Cable is loaded onto a vessel in South Korea, marking a key milestone for the project. | AC Transformers Installed All four AC transformers have been successfully installed at the CHPE’s converter station in Astoria, Queens. |
Reactor Hall Equipment Reactor Hall equipment being installed at the CHPE converter station in Astoria, Queens. | Harlem River Installation Customized barges install CHPE cable in the Harlem River in June 2025. | Lake Champlain Cable Protection Concrete mattresses used to protect CHPE cables underwater are placed in Lake Champlain in May 2025. |
Survey Vessel The Sheila Bordelon successfully completed survey work in the Hudson River in May 2025. | Harlem River Barge Assembled Harlem River cable barge to be used for spring-summer 2025 installation campaign. | Cable Pulling HVDC cables are pulled into a splice vault located under a roadway in the Spring 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 June 2025, 92 miles of trenching have been completed, representing 89% of the project’s total. Approximately 97% of the project’s HDD pilot holes have been drilled and more than 62% 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 June 2025, all of the HDDs are complete and 45% 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 June 2025, converter station progress remains on schedule with more than 78% of the project complete. Nearly 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 June 2025, 59% of necessary excavation and shoring is finished. Major construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Marine 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.
As of June 2025, more than 124 total miles of cable have been laid in Lake Champlain and the Upper Hudson. Additional cable installation in Lake Champlain and the Lower Hudson will occur throughout the Summer and Fall of 2025. Over 6 miles of cable installation in the Harlem River also commenced and was completed in June 2025.
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: June 2025