Major Transmission Project Hits Commissioning Date Early; Provides 20% of NYC Energy Needs With Renewables
Posted on May 14, 2026
Young/Sommer LLC is proud to have played a leading role in the successful development, permitting, and construction of the now-completed Champlain Hudson Power Express (“CHPE”) transmission project, which achieved commercial operation ahead of schedule on May 13, 2026.
The 339-mile high-voltage direct current transmission line extends from the U.S./Canada border to New York City, running underground through multiple New York counties and underwater through Lake Champlain and portions of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers before terminating at a converter station in Astoria, Queens. The project is expected to deliver enough renewable power from Hydro-Québec to supply approximately one million homes and provide roughly 20% of New York City’s electricity needs with renewables. CHPE’s Astoria Converter Station also successfully cleaned up and repurposed a previously contaminated industrial property, converting a fossil fuel brownfield to a green energy hub.
Young/Sommer has served as State and municipal regulatory and permitting counsel to the CHPE project throughout both the compliance and construction phases since 2019, helping to facilitate commencement of construction in November 2022 and working closely with the project team, state agencies, local municipalities, and other stakeholders to help advance one of New York’s most significant clean energy infrastructure projects to this week’s historic milestone.
The firm’s work included securing approvals for 12 amendments to the project’s Article VII Certificate, obtaining approval of 25 Environmental Management and Construction Plans (EM&CPs), negotiating and finalizing dozens of local Road Use Agreements, and assisting with numerous additional approvals and compliance matters necessary to support project financing, construction, and operations.
Young/Sommer Partner Laura Bomyea Darling led the firm’s efforts on the project, with support from Steven Wilson, James Muscato, Robert Panasci, and many others across the firm.
The New York State Public Service Commission recently described CHPE as “the single most important” contribution toward improving electric reliability currently being made in New York State. In addition to delivering renewable energy into New York City, the project also included the Astoria-Rainey Cable enhancement to strengthen reliability within NYISO Zone J.