# Power line reshaping New York's grid faces hurdles Massive Quebec-to-New York transmission project battles drought and technical challenges. - **Source:** [MIT Technology Review](https://www.technologyreview.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/61b59d83-a2ab-4503-8bdb-7fbdf72b4a70 ## Historic project goes live The 339-mile Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), North America's longest underground transmission line, began operations in May. Capable of meeting 20% of NYC's electricity demand, this hydro-powered transfer could play a pivotal role in reducing the state's carbon emissions. ## Engineering marvel The line consists of two 5-inch diameter high-voltage DC cables laid along the Hudson River bed using specialized water-jetting vessels. The $6 billion privately-funded project sets new standards in transmission technology, buried entirely underground or underwater. ## Teething problems Two July outages, including a damaged US-side cable section, reflect typical startup challenges for new infrastructure. Experts note such projects require operational testing before achieving full reliability. Repairs were completed with post-testing underway. ## Drought concerns Quebec's three-year drought threatens hydroelectric output, potentially limiting export capacity to New York. Shrinking water reserves present an unexpected challenge for renewable energy transition, highlighting climate change's complex impacts. ## Grid resilience New York's grid operator deliberately excluded CHPE from summer planning, ensuring reliability during July's heatwave. Long-term, such interconnections will become vital for energy security as regions increasingly share renewable resources. ## Energy transition milestone While CHPE marks progress in fossil fuel phase-out, its technical and climate vulnerabilities reveal the complexities of green energy adoption. The project's success will influence future Northeast transmission initiatives and clean energy policy. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/07/23/1140739/power-line-grid-chpe/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._