Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE)
$6.5B | 339-mile buried HVDC cable bundle
Client or Program Owner
Employed by TDI-USA Holdings, a Blackstone portfolio Company, answering to Will Davie, Snr. Vice President - Marine.
Region
New York State, from the Canadian border in Lake Champlain to Queens Astoria, New York City.
Timeframe
From November 2022 (shortly after FID) to May 2026 (Project completion)
Context
The marine scope was a significant part of the overall $6.5 B cost, covering an EPCI contract with multiple indirect and direct sub-contracts. Over 3,000 barge/vessel days were completed over two seasons in 2024 and 2025, with the final close out early in 2026.
The Situation
I was brought on board in 2022 within weeks of FID approval, the project had been in planning and permitting stages for over 12 years prior to that.
All major permits and contracts were in place, a Marine Team needed to be sourced/built and everything put in place to start installation in Q2 2024
My remit was to be responsible for the safe, timely and on-budget execution of the marine scopes.
Originally employed as VP Marine - Hudson and Harlem Rivers, my portfolio was expanded to include Lake Champlain shortly after joining.
What He Did
Analyzed the installation contracts, sub-contracts, and the various permit conditions the project had to comply with. ( USACE, USCG, State Dept. NOAA, NYSDPS, etc.)
This drove multiple scopes
Recruit and manage a strong, versatile team
Manage a direct sub-contract locating infrastructure in close proximity to the permitted route (Multiple surveys & diving).
Review the proposed route and adjust as required to satisfy all constraints (over 12 revisions).
Negotiate crossing agreements for all marine co-located infrastructure which included bridges, a chain ferry, gas, water and oil pipelines, electrical and communication cables.
Interface with State, Federal and Marine stakeholders throughout with significant effort in producing EM&CP’s. (Environmental Management and Construction Plans)
The Outcome
The line was fully installed and tested on 15th May 2026, two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget despite serious setbacks in 2024 that pushed additional work into 2025. Two incidents in 2024 required unplanned but significant repair and replacement scopes.
Key Detail
CHPE is the longest fully buried HVDC cable in the USA, the marine portion utilized over a dozen barges, many of them bespoke, six DP vessels, completing well over 3,000 vessel days starting in Q2 2024 and completing all cable lay and trenching in 2025 with some remediation early in 2026 after the Hudson River became ice free.
Between the three water bodies the Marine Team designed and gained agreement for over 120 individual crossings enabling on time submission of Environmental Methodology & Construction Plan approval for the installation of pre-lay protection ahead of the cable installation schedule.
For infrastructure where an owner could not be found, or in the case of an uncooperative owner, working directly with our state counsel, we developed language to satisfy the NYS Dept. of public Safety, allowing sign of the EM&CP’s. That language has been adopted by the state for subsequent projects.
