Groundbreaking Taking Place for Historic Clean Energy Project

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is pleased to announce to the community that Ohénton ĺ:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer will be attending a ground-breaking ceremony for the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) line (the transmission line on the United States side of the border) taking place today in Whitehall, New York.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Hydro-Québec Chief Executive Officer Sophie Brochu and other important project partners and dignitaries will be in attendance.

Announced in May of 2021, a new partnership between the MCK and Hydro-Québec will see the construction and joint ownership of the Hertel Line. This 58 kilometre, 400-kv underground transmission line will run from the Hertel Substation in La Prairie, Québec to the U.S. Border, where it will connect to the CHPE via a new underground and underwater line between Champlain and Astoria, NY.

“The Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawks) of Kahnawà:ke have a strong personal attachment to New York City, as generations of ironworkers from every Kanien’kehá:ka community helped build many buildings and bridges that form the city skyline,” said Grand Chief Sky-Deer. “Now, as a partner with Hydro-Quebec, we’ll help deliver clean and renewable energy, enough to provide electricity to power a million homes – reducing the total amount of current emissions from New York City traffic by approximately forty-four percent (44%).”

“As Kanien’kehá:ka people, we are always mindful of the seven generations to come,” she added. “This partnership solidifies efforts towards a cleaner environment, while creating more opportunity for Kahnawà:ke to carry out our responsibilities as stewards of the environment.”

The partnership agreement between the MCK and Hydro-Québec was approved by the Council of Chiefs for signing at the Monday, November 14thduly convened Council meeting. It remains conditional upon the approval of the other stakeholders. If approved by all parties, it will provide economic benefits to the community for a period of 40 years.

The MCK and Hydro-Québec entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Hertel - New York Interconnection Project, now known as the Hertel Line, in May of 2021.

After over a year of negotiations, the MCK passed a Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Executive Directive approving the definitive agreement. If approved by all parties, it will be owned via a newly-created entity, in which both the MCK and Hydro-Québec have an interest. This new partnership will own the conduit/transmission line, but not the electricity itself.

This will be the first time in its history that Hydro-Québec has agreed to share the ownership of its transmission infrastructure with a third party.

Ohénton :iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer said, “The Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawks) of Kahnawà:ke have a strong personal attachment to the city of New York, as generations of ironworkers from every Kanien’kehá:ka community helped build several buildings and bridges that form the city skyline. Now, as a partner with Hydro-Quebec, we’re delivering clean and renewable energy to the city. This equates to the supply of electricity to power a million homes, reduces harmful carbon emissions and improves air quality. As Kanien’kehá:ka people, we are always mindful of the seven generations to come - this partnership solidifies efforts towards a cleaner environment, while creating more opportunity for Kahnawà:ke to carry out our responsibilities as stewards of the environment.”

Transmission Developers CEO Donald Jessome said, “This is a moment more than a decade in the making, as we officially begin construction on a transformational project that will play a major role in helping New York achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals. Reaching the groundbreaking for CHPE is the culmination of the tireless efforts of so many who believed in this project over the years, from public officials, to community partners, business organizations, labor unions and environmental groups, who all made important contributions to this process, demonstrating how to make large-scale, complex energy initiatives a reality. We look forward to continuing our hard work to deliver this clean energy transmission project and its wide-ranging benefits to New York.”