The New York State Public Service Commission will hold six public statement hearings on this joint proposal which purports to resolve all of the issues raised by the request of Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. and CHPE Properties (together, the Applicants) for approval to build a 1,000 MW transmission line from the Canadian border near the Village of Rouse’s Point, Town of Champlain, Clinton County, to Astoria, Queens, New York City. Public statement hearings will be held before an Administrative Law Judge.

Public Statement Hearings:

Whitehall
Tuesday, April 3, 2012

 6:00 p.m.

Whitehall Town Office
58 Skenesborough Drive
Whitehall, New York 12887

Catskill
Wednesday, April 4, 2012

6:00 p.m.

Catskill Town Hall
Town Board Meeting Room
439 Main Street
Catskill, New York 12414

 Ravena
Thursday, April, 5, 2012

6:00 p.m.

Village of Ravena
Courtroom
15 Mountain Road
Ravena, New York 12143

Schenectady
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

6:00 p.m.

Schenectady City Hall
Council Chambers
105 Jay Street
Schenectady, New York 12305

 Garnerville
Thursday, April 12, 2012

6:00 p.m.

Haverstraw Town Hall
Large Meeting Room
1 Rosman Road
Garnerville, New York 10923

 Astoria
Tuesday, April 24, 2012

6:00 p.m.

P.S. 122 Queens
Mamie Fay School
Auditorium
2121 Ditmars Blvd
Astoria, New York 11105

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material to speak at the hearings. Each hearing will remain open for at least one hour and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service's Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at the previously mentioned number

Facility Location:

Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. has submitted a proposal to the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) to construct, operate and maintain a 1,000 megawatt High Voltage Direct Current electric transmission line, named the "Champlain-Hudson Power Express." The proposed line would begin south of Montreal, near the New York-Canadian border, would run underwater in Lake Champlain to a landfall at Dresden Station in Washington County, and southerly along NYS Route 22 to the CP railroad right-of-way in the Village of Whitehall, and continue along CP rail through the City of Saratoga toward Schenectady; the line would continue southeasterly along CP right-of-way and Erie Boulevard in Schenectady, re-join the CP railroad right-of-way and proceed east and south through Albany and Greene Counties along CSX railroad right-of-way, and then enter the Hudson River south of the Village of Catskill. The line would be located underwater in the Hudson River southerly to Stony Point in Rockland County, where the line would resume alignment in the CSX rail right-of-way south through the Village of West Haverstraw to Rockland Lake State Park, and follow NYS Route 9W south for a short distance through Clarkstown and then cross under Rockland Lake State Park and re-enter the Hudson River, where the line would continue southerly under the Harlem River to the CSX railroad crossing of the Harlem River Yards, and then cross the East River to Astoria Queens. At Astoria, the Direct Current facility would be converted to Alternating Current at a proposed converter station on property owned by Consolidated Edison northeast of 20th Avenue, and a High Voltage Alternating Current transmission line would proceed southwesterly under the city streets to the Consolidated Edison Rainey Substation located at Vernon Boulevard near 35th Avenue. If certified, construction would begin in 2013 – 2014.

The public statement hearings identified in this fact sheet are being held along the proposed route, affording the public the opportunity to comment on the Champlain Hudson Power Express project and the Joint Proposal.

The PSC must decide whether to grant or deny the application and make findings on:

o The basis of need for the facility, and conformance with plans for electric grid expansion

o The nature of environmental impacts, and that impacts are minimized

o Conformance with local laws and regulations, or the need for waivers

o Public interest, convenience and necessity determinations.

Ways to Comment on the Case:

The Internet:  Comments may be submitted via the Internet in two ways: (1) by accessing the Commission’s Website – http://www.dps.ny.gov  (1) Place your cursor over "What’s Hot: Electric", then click "Champlain Hudson Power Express", then click "PSC Comment Form - 10-T-0139." and, (2) e-mail comments can be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at [email protected]. Many libraries offer free Internet access. In both instances, your comments should refer to "Case: 10-T-0139 – Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc."

Mail Written Comments:  Written comments may also be mailed to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to "Case: 10-T-0139 – Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc."

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Another way to submit comments is by calling the Commission’s toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. Callers should press "1" to leave comments regarding "Electric Issues."


Comments submitted via these alternate means are requested by April 27, 2012. Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be accessed on the Web site by searching Case 10-T-0139. Many libraries offer free Internet access.

For more information, or a copy of the case fact sheet click here.