Federal elected officials are encouraging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to support a new power cable that will be buried under the Hudson River and bring hydroelectric power to the New York City area.

This map shows the route of the proposed Champlain Hudson Power Express cable.According to the Albany Times Union, twenty members of Congress -- including U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who represents the Hudson Valley -- wrote a letter to Cuomo urging him to support the Champlain Hudson Power Express project. The 330-mile underwater cable will bring power to New York from Quebec.

The project earned approval from the New York Department of State, but the Public Service Commission must also sign off. Approvals are also required from the federal government.

Among the many benefits touted in the Congress members' letter is the potential savings to New York ratepayers, which are estimated in the range of $500 million annually.