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Q&A
Concerns about CHPE and wind power for New York City's renewable energy goals
1:49:19
ยท
4 min
Council Member Restler inquires about the risks to renewable energy sources, particularly CHPE (Champlain Hudson Power Express) and wind power, in achieving New York City's climate goals. Commissioner Aggarwala discusses the current status of these projects and potential challenges.
- CHPE project is moving forward, with New York City as the anchor user, but potential tariffs could impact costs
- Offshore wind development faces challenges due to increased construction costs and federal policy changes
- The future of large-scale renewable energy projects for New York City remains uncertain
Lincoln Restler
1:49:19
And I'd like to to shift to risks to some of our renewable energy sources to achieve our climate goals in New York City.
1:49:29
I'd like to get your thoughts on Chippy and and wind power in particular.
1:49:34
So I'll start maybe with Chippy.
1:49:36
And based on the conversations that you've been having, if these kind of absurd tariffs were to move forward, do you anticipate that it would impact the costs to New Yorkers for accessing the Hydro Quebec pipeline that is currently being constructed?
Rohit Aggarwala
1:50:04
Look, I think it is it is it is too early to say.
1:50:12
You know, there there are two types of tariffs that have been discussed related to electricity.
1:50:16
One is an import tariff into The US and then of course Right.
1:50:19
The premier of Ontario very briefly imposed or
Lincoln Restler
1:50:24
Although Chippy the Hydro Quebec pipeline would not impact Doug Ford wouldn't impact that.
1:50:27
It's just through Quebec.
Rohit Aggarwala
1:50:28
Correct.
1:50:29
And I think that's an important distinction that, you know, we haven't heard that kind of discussion coming from the province of Quebec.
1:50:36
And so there there may be a big distinction there.
1:50:40
I will also need to look into what the contract actually says.
1:50:43
And and again, like with many things, we are really just at the beginning of understanding our exposure to things that we might have taken for granted.
1:50:50
Yeah.
1:50:51
But you know the good news I'd say, you know, New York City is contracted to be as you well know the anchor user of Chippy.
1:51:00
That project, you know, building anything that's that's that big is always complex.
1:51:07
But, you know, I've personally been in touch with the leadership at Chippy on a number of occasions.
1:51:13
And and they are moving forward and and we continue to to fully support them.
Lincoln Restler
1:51:18
And we're still on track for 2026.
1:51:23
Is that right?
Rohit Aggarwala
1:51:24
I believe we are.
1:51:25
I'd have to get back to you, and I would I would wanna check with our our energy team at MOCEJ.
Lincoln Restler
1:51:36
You know, I just it's you know, I think that I I've been a big supporter of this of Chippy and hydro and this partnership with Hydro Quebec as a critical way for us to expand renewable energy for the city of New York, and for both the government and the city as a whole.
1:51:55
But I I'm just profoundly concerned what a 25 tariff could mean on the viability of that project and who would be paying for it and how this could all actually work.
1:52:06
And I know there are broader much broader implications for the interdependence of New York City's New York State, excuse me, electrical grid and Canada's, and how we benefit from energy from Canada that's not just renewable energy.
1:52:22
But, you know, this is one of the most important sustainability projects that's happening in our state today.
1:52:30
And I the future of it is totally unknown to me if these, you know, kind of absurdist tariffs were to advance.
1:52:38
So shifting to wind, my understanding is that so, you know, when we look at what are the major sources of renewable energy that are gonna allow us to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
1:52:57
There's wind and then there's everything else in in the plans that had been in development in New York.
1:53:04
You know, the Con Ed has been working on a renewable energy hub in District 33, you know, which if realized at its full potential could bring renewable energy through wind power into Brooklyn that could power half the homes in the borough.
1:53:18
Right?
1:53:20
So I'm deeply concerned about shifts in the federal government's policies toward wind.
1:53:27
What's your interpretation of where we stand today?
1:53:30
Is wind power off the table for the foreseeable future?
1:53:33
And if so, are there big shifts that we should be thinking about toward other approaches?