The mayor of America's largest city has said he wants all public infrastucture there to be powered by "Canadian zero-emission electricity".
New York City's Bill de Blasio says that signing an agreement to import hydroelectricity from Quebec is a part of his plan to fight climate change. He says he wants a deal signed by the end of 2020.
De Blasio says he wants to see the city's GHG emissions fall by 40% of 2005 levels in 2030. A key part of making that happen is ensuring that all municipal infrastructure in the city of more than 8 million is powered by 100% clean energy. That alone would reduce GHG emissions in the city by 5%, 1/8 of the way to the overall target.
In a press release that came after his announcement, de Blasio said he wanted to start negotiations "on the spot" to conclude an agreement on importing electricity by the end of 2020.
Premier François Legault couldn't contain his excitement in a Tweet today.
WOW! Le maire de New-York annonce la relance des négociations avec Hydro-Québec.
— François Legault (@francoislegault) April 22, 2019
Hydro-Québec peut devenir la batterie verte du nord-est de l'Amérique. https://t.co/OnMP9y7Vjf
Hydro-Québec, meanwhile, said in a news release that it "will be pleased to continue discussions with New York City" to make the Champlain-Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project, which would be needed to transport Quebec hydroelectricity to the New York area, a reality.
Negotiations over that project between the province, the crown corporation, and the state of New York have been ongoing for over a decade.