NYS Public Service Commission to identify transmission projects to meet clean energy goals

Published on October 23, 2020 by Dave Kovaleski


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The New York State Public Service Commission adopted criteria for identifying transmission projects needed in the state to meet renewable energy goals.

Further, the commission identified the New York Power Authority’s proposed Northern New York project as a high-priority project. It referred the project to NYPA for development and construction following the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Protection Act of 2020.

“New York’s nation-leading CLCPA legislation calls for transformational quantities of renewable energy, which in turn requires smart new transmission to connect that power to customers,” Commission Chair John Rhodes said. “Today, we have adopted well-designed new rules to specifically expedite bulk transmission investments that unbottle existing and new renewables. We also have designated the first investment under these new rules, NYPA’s Northern New York project, to complete a critical link in our upstate grid and unbottle at least 950 to 1,050 MW of renewable energy sources.”

The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Protection Act calls on the commission and NYPA to collaborate when the commission finds a need for expeditious action to solve a transmission need. The Northern New York Project is one such project. It involves rebuilding approximately 45 miles of transmission eastward from Massena to the Town of Clinton and 55 miles of transmission
southward from Croghan to Marcy. Further, it involves rebuilding and expanding several substations along the impacted transmission corridor. NYPA estimates that the Northern New York project will significantly increase production cost savings, emissions reductions, and decreases in congestion. Specifically, NYPA estimates that the project would result in production cost savings of approximately $99 million per year. It is also estimated to result in more than 1.16 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually on a statewide basis and more than $447 million in annual congestion savings in Northern New York.

Environmental and clean energy groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, support the commission’s efforts to identify and advance transmission projects needed to meet clean energy targets.