CHPE Woes Continue to Grow in Northern Rockland

Before Covid reared its ugly head, the Champlain Hudson Power Express was being hailed by environmentalists, and local boards welcomed the financial benefit their communities would reap to beautify their section of the roadway once construction ended. However, the daily disruption is now  causing an outcry from local business owners, drivers and the public that is only growing louder.

Better known as CHPE, the electric transmission line was introduced to northern Rockland Town and Village Boards back in 2019. Transmission Developers’ local representative Jenn Laird-White touted the financial benefit those municipalities would receive after construction was completed to beautify the 9W corridor; in the meantime, all it seems to be doing is causing financial woes for North Rockland businesses, many of whom have seen earnings cut nearly in half, and havoc for all trying to navigate the heavily travelled thoroughfare. Two weeks ago, an unidentified driver whose tire was flattened after he hit a steel roadway plate near Helen Hayes Hospital, wondered aloud if he’d ever see a nickel in reparations.

The $6 billion investment by Blackstone, TD’s parent company, has vowed to make the disruption  financially beneficial to business owners, their employees and all who shop or live near 9W whose coffers have been drained from the disruption. Business owners are left wary and wondering if they themselves will be seeing any nickels.

The buried cable’s destination is New York City and is being laid primarily under the Hudson River, but has to come ashore in Stony Point in order not to disturb a protected area of the river. The pipe will run under Route 9W until it reaches the Village of Congers, where it will re-enter the Hudson and make its way to the power plant in Astoria, Queens.

Transmission Developers expect CHPE to be operational next year. 

Several local businesses recently met with NYS Senator Pete Harkham, who represents Stony Point, to tell him about the financial havoc and personal impact the construction has caused. Harkham responded by stating that Transmission Developers have committed $150,000 in seed money to create a rescue fund for businesses, which is $50,000 more than originally promised. The funds will be administered by the North Rockland Chamber of Commerce; however, despite the promise, business owners wonder how far that money will go to help them recover their losses. The Transmission Developers and O&R, have also agreed to work mainly overnight to relieve congestion along the well-travelled corridor during the day.

The towns of Stony Point, Haverstraw and Clarkstown will divide up approximately $30 million once the CHPE is completed. Roadwork is scheduled to end in November, which cannot come soon enough for North Rocklanders. Another downside for the affected communities dealing with the disruption is that the $6 billion transmission line, which was meant to replace the electricity that Indian Point once generated, will only benefit the Big Apple.