June 22, 2022
Administrator to manage fund operations and grant program to benefit New York’s disadvantaged communities and leverage pre-existing programs when possible
Responses to RFP due by July 1
New York – June 22, 2022 – The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an administrator for the project’s $40 million Green Economy Fund (GEF). The selected administrator will be responsible for the operational and fiscal duties of the fund and managing its grant program including issuing requests for proposals, tracking, recordkeeping and reporting.
The GEF, overseen by an advisory board, will award competitive grants to programs that provide green jobs training to residents living in New York’s disadvantaged communities and fossil industry workers seeking skills to benefit from the transition to a clean economy. The fund will also strive to address non-traditional barriers to employment such as childcare and transportation and support initiatives that help address the energy burden felt in these communities.
“Supporting New York residents in gaining access to jobs within the renewable energy industry is a key component of New York State’s transition to a greener future,” said Hydro-Québec President and CEO Sophie Brochu and Transmission Developers CEO Don Jessome. “We are very excited to be bringing on an administrator to assist the GEF advisory board ensure they are making the best uses of the fund and look forward to supporting renewable workforce development programming throughout the State beginning this year.”
In February, CHPE announced the advisory board was formed in close consultation with local workforce development experts, labor unions, housing authorities and community-based organizations.. The diverse and experienced board members will review and select the programs that best meet the needs of the residents being served and will ensure that access to the GEF is equitable.
Part of New York State’s comprehensive renewable energy vision to reduce by 80% New York City’s reliance on fossil fuels by 2030, CHPE will deliver enough reliable clean energy to power more than 1 million homes across the city. The buried transmission line – scheduled to begin construction later this year – will lower greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing half a million cars from the roads, create 1,400 good-paying jobs and generate billions of dollars in new investment in New York’s economy while delivering affordable renewable hydropower.
Responses to the GEF Administrator RFP are due to CHPE by July 1, 2022. More detail on New York State’s criteria for disadvantaged communities can be found here.
About the Champlain Hudson Power Express
The CHPE project involves the construction of an entirely underground and underwater transmission line spanning approximately 339 miles between the Canada–U.S. border and New York City. Once built CHPE will deliver clean hydropower from Quebec. The permitted CHPE is estimated to create more than 1,400 jobs during construction, with a commitment to use union labor.