Hydro-Québec’s project also enjoys strong support from communities that suffer from the effects of air pollution linked to the production of fossil fuels. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
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Hydro-Québec’s plan to deliver electricity to New York State is not likely to face the same obstacles as the interconnection line in Maine, believes the chief operating officer of the American subsidiary of the state company, Serge Abergel.
One of the reasons is that the State of New York does not have a referendum process which can call into question a project as is the case in Maine, explains the leader of Hydro-Quebec Energy Services in an interview, on the sidelines of a presentation at the Conference of Montreal on Tuesday. He also points out that the New York project has all the necessary permits to carry out the construction which would allow commissioning in 2025.
Mr. Abergel does not claim victory for all that for this contract which could generate revenues of 20 billion dollars over 25 years and supply the equivalent of a million homes with electricity. “I have fears for all the projects, he admits. I want to be clear, it’s not because there is a specific threat, but it’s our job to be proactive. We take nothing for granted.”
The Hydro-Quebec project also enjoys strong support from communities suffering from the effects of air pollution linked to the production of fossil fuels that the State of New York wants to replace with clean sources of supply, advances Mr. Abergel.
He gave the example of auxiliary thermal power plants around New York City. The air pollution they produce particularly affects the Queens borough on the island of Manhattan. The population has given the name “asthma corridor” to certain underprivileged areas.
“It’s the place in the United States that has the highest rate of asthma due to local air pollution,” Mr. Abergel said during his presentation. People have stepped up and said they are tired of this environmental discrimination.”
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