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 January 2025, construction of CHPE is more than 60% complete! Broken down, the project has completed:
- Over 70 miles of trenching
- Over 50 miles of horizonal directional drilling
- Over 120 miles of cable laid in New York State waterways
- Nearly 60% of its construction on a new converter station in Queens
Interactive Project Map*
*Data displayed in the map represents the most current information and was last updated 11/1/2024.
Cable Splicing on Land HVDC cables successfully spliced together in a vault under a public roadway in Washington County N.Y. | Cable Pull In CHPE cables were pulled from water to land in December 2024, connecting the project from Stony Point in Rockland County to Cementon in Greene County. | Successful Dig Lay Backfill 70 miles of dig lay backfill work is now complete, which includes excavating trench and installing conduit for CHPE cables and a fiber optic monitoring line. |
Randall’s Island Vault Installation The transition vault was successfully installed on Randall’s Island in September of 2024. | First Manhole Complete in Queens The first manhole was completed in October 2024 on the Astoria- Raney Cable in Queens which will reinforce the HVAC power grid in NYC. | Cable Splicing on the Hudson HVDC cables successfully spliced on board the Ariadne are installed in the Hudson River in the Fall of 2024. |
Lake Champlain Installation Begins In August of 2024 cables were floated across the US-Canadian border marking the official start of cable laying in Lake Champlain. | Hudson River Installation Begins Atalanti arriving in New York Harbor in preparation for cable installation on the Hudson. | Astoria Converter Station Progresses The firewater tank being built at the Astoria Converter Station. |
Terrestrial Cable Installation
CHPE’s underground cable installation work is progressing on schedule and 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) which is used to go under large obstacles and avoid environmentally sensitive areas and pulling and splicing cables together.
As of January 2025, 73 miles of trenching has been completed, representing 76% of the total project, and there are now more than 30 crews performing dig, lay, backfill operations across the entire project. More than 70% of the project’s HDD’s have been completed and more than 30% 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 January 2025, 66% of the HDDs are complete and nearly 20% 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 now has 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 January 2025, converter station progress remains on schedule with nearly 60% of the project complete, and nearly all of the necessary equipment manufactured. 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 HVAC cable is being constructed in Astoria, Queens that is known as the Astoria-Rainey Cable (ARC). As of January 2025, 30% of the project’s manholes are complete and nearly 15% of necessary excavation 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 January 2025, more than 120 total miles of cable have been laid in waterways used by the project. Cable installation in Lake Champlain is now paused for the winter and will be completed in 2025.
Approximately 67 miles of cable have been installed the Upper Hudson River between Cementon in Greene County and Stony Point in Rockland County, and two additional campaigns, one in the lower Hudson, and one in the Harlem River, will take place in 2025. For more information on how cable is installed in the 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: February 2025