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Dateline Monday, March 7, 2011The SIERRA CLUB, Atlantic Chapter

Will submit a Request to participate as a formal Party in the Article VII applicationreview by the Department of Public Service Commission for the proposed Champlain

Hudson Power Express Electric Transmission Cable (the Project).

The Project is a controversial power line proposal known as the CHE (ChamplainHudson Express) is racing through multiple permitting processes to attemp a start ofconstruction by September 2011.

The 355-mile, 1,000-megawatt submarine power line will initate at the Hertel Substationin Quebec, Canada, run under Lake Champlain, continue down the length of the HudsonRiver, and end in the NY Metro region.

First proposed by Transmission Developers, Inc. (TDI) to the US Dept of Energy in

January 2010, this project does little in moving NYS towards a greener energy future.The line is to be buried beneath the Hudson River, and will require dredgingand and environmental disruption.The funding for the project is with American Recovery and Reinvestment Actsubsidies funds that are meant for progressing renewable energies andmodernizing the current power grid.

The project is being falsely advertised as a clean energy alternative (usingwind and hydro-power). However, this project requires the damming ofvirgin Canadian rivers at the expense of the American taxpayer green-washing at its best. More importantly the term clean energy is not yet defined

by the federal government and in addition would benefit Canadian producersand contribute little to American recovery aside from the temporary impactsof construction that occurs in about the project in New York State.

a) The project, as of January 2011, is rushing through the multiple permittingprocesses in attempting to start construction by September 2011. Thetransparency of the project has been very murky as the PSC and TDI have notbeen forthcoming about when meetings are being held and are constantlycanceling/rescheduling meetings.

The project has applied for $1.52 billion in Recovery Act loan guarantees,and states that it will transport the prerequisite renewable wind and/or hydro-power into New York from facilities at Lower Churchill Falls, Canada. Thosefacilities are still to be constructed. If and when new renewable energybecomes available, that electricity could enter the NYISO market via theexisting transmission grid without this project.Ultimately, the proposed TDI power line is a one-way monopoly that channelstrade-protected Canadian power into the high-use, but already well-supplied,NY Metro market at disadvantages to Canadian and NYS merchants,

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residents, and the environment. The best way to provide clean, renewableenergy to the Metro-NY area is on-site generation solar generation coupledwith assertive demand side reduction measures and energy efficiencymeasures not the transmission-only line proposed by TDI.

b) The Atlantic Chapter seeks a more thorough review of the project. If the

project demonstrates more detrimental aspects than benefits the Chapter goalwill be to stop the project. The funding should go towards renewable energyand/or efficiency projects that will have a net positive impact on theenvironment.

c) Sierra Club will be a major party involved in this issue. Without Sierra Clubinvolvement the line might pass as a renewable energy solution.

d) We will seek involvement with Sierra Club Canada and get their involvementin this issue as it crosses country lines.

This report is