Applications open for slice of $40M for New Yorkers eyeing careers in green economy

Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), the company behind the underground and underwater transmission line between the Canada-U.S. border and New York City, has opened the third request for proposals (RFP) for its fund that aims to support New Yorkers looking for careers in the green economy.

The Green Economy Fund (GEF) is a $40 million, 20-year initiative dedicated to supporting New York State’s disadvantaged communities, low-income individuals, and transitioning fossil fuel workers to careers in the green economy.

“The Green Economy Fund is about making sure that all New Yorkers – especially those from disadvantaged communities – have a fair shot at good-paying, sustainable careers in the green economy,” said Laura Gibson, Director of Workforce Development at Transmission Developers.

“With this third round of funding, we are continuing to invest in workforce training, support services, and job placement programs that connect people to life-changing opportunities. We encourage organizations across the state to apply and help us build a more inclusive clean energy future.” 

Among other things, the GEF invites applications from organizations that include workforce development training programs, those providing wrap-around services to workers from the target communities that enable them to connect to and/or sustain themselves in good jobs and training programs, as well as those building employer partnerships to create pipelines for participants in training or job readiness programming.

Community colleges or other educational institutions that provide adult basic education and the qualifications needed to become eligible for union apprenticeships and jobs training programs with employer partnerships in the green economy for graduates are also invited to apply.

Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, March 21.

The second round recently awarded $745,000 in grants, as announced on February 3, bringing the total amount awarded over the past two years to $1.5 million, more than a year before the transmission line is expected to be operational.

“The transition to clean energy must be both ambitious and equitable,” said Hydro-Quebec Energy Services Chief Operating Officer Serge Abergel. “Through the Green Economy Fund, we are not only delivering renewable power to New York, but also investing in the people and communities who will drive this transformation. The success of the first two RFPs has already shown the impact of this initiative, and we look forward to supporting even more organizations in this third round.” 

Seen as the largest clean energy project ever constructed in New York State and the largest fully-buried transmission line in North America, CHPE will carry 1,250 MW of renewable energy, spanning approximately 339 miles (around 545 kilometers) from Québec to Queens, where it will provide 20% of New York City’s annual energy needs and power more than 1 million homes.

The CHPE project broke ground on the transmission line in November 2022 in Whitehall, and on the Astoria converter site in September 2023, while the HVDC cable run was installed underground in January 2024. Upon arrival from Sweden to New York, the Atalanti cable laying vessel (CLV) embarked on an assignment that Asso.subsea inked with NKT for the transportation, installation, and burial of the cable system along a portion of the Hudson River.

The project will provide $3.5 billion in economic benefits to New Yorkers and create approximately 1,400 jobs during construction, with a commitment to use union labor.