Ground-breaking taking place today for historic Clean Energy project

11/30/2022

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.

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