New Lines to Unbottle Renewable Energy Sources, Help Avoid 1.16 Million Tons of CO₂ Emissions Annually, Save $447 Million in Annual Transmission Congestion Costs, and Create Hundreds of Clean Energy Construction Jobs

 WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced approval of the Northern New York Priority Transmission Project (NNYPTP), a major transmission line rebuild that will harden the resiliency of New York’s power grid and accelerate movement toward meeting New York State’s aggressive clean energy goals. The board’s authorization paves the way for engineering and planning work to begin in preparation for the project’s environmental review and approval process through the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). The project is expected to stimulate local and regional economies by creating and supporting hundreds of clean energy construction jobs. The authorization to “accept, develop and operate” the transmission project took place at today’s Board of Trustees meeting where the NYPA trustees also approved the selection of National Grid, an electricity, natural gas and clean energy delivery company, as the project’s co-participant, and the purchase of 24 acres in the Town of Massena to facilitate the work.

“The Power Authority is committed to leading the charge to deliver on Governor Cuomo’s goal to build a carbon-free energy system by 2040 and we are pleased to step forward on this project with National Grid,” said NYPA Board of Trustees Vice Chair and North Country Resident Eugene L. Nicandri. “The Northern New York Priority Transmission Project will prepare us for the energy challenges we face in the future. Building this new line will help the North Country rebound from pandemic-related job losses and deliver against a key priority in NYPA’s VISION2030 strategic plan to rapidly develop transmission circuit-miles to help build a statewide green energy superhighway.”

The NNYPTP was identified by the PSC on October 15 as a priority transmission project that should move forward expeditiously under New York’s Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act. The Project was approved for acceleration in order to help the State meet its nation-leading climate and clean energy goals set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in July 2019, which calls for a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy-wide carbon neutrality. This project builds upon Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s announcement in his 2021 State of the State address of five transmission projects totaling 250 miles across the state that will form New York’s Green Energy Superhighway. The NNYPTP, spanning approximately 100 miles of transmission lines across the North Country and through the Mohawk Valley on the southern-most portion, is expected to begin construction next year and take approximately three years to conclude.

The NNYPTP is a multi-faceted project that includes: completion of the second phase of NYPA’s Smart Path Moses-Adirondack rebuild; rebuilding approximately 45 miles of transmission eastward from Massena to the Town of Clinton, known as the Northern Alignment; rebuilding approximately 55 miles of transmission southward from Croghan to Marcy, known as the Southern Alignment; and rebuilding and expanding several substations along the impacted transmission corridor. The work falls primarily within existing transmission rights-of-way.

The Northern New York Project will help unbottle existing renewable resources in the region, and will also yield significant production cost savings, emissions reductions, and decreases in transmission congestion. It is estimated to result in more than 1.16 million tons of CO₂ emissions avoided annually on a statewide basis and an annual reduction of approximately 160 tons of NOx emissions from downstate emissions sources. NYPA estimates the project will provide more than $447 million in annual congestion savings in northern New York and create hundreds of clean energy jobs during construction.

The transmission upgrade project builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including more than $4 billion invested in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while meeting a goal to deliver 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs in end-use savings.

National Grid Selected as Co-participant

In selecting National Grid as a co-participant on the project, NYPA cited among other things, National Grid’s extensive experience planning, developing, constructing, managing and operating transmission projects similar in type and scale to the NNYPTP as well as ownership and familiarity of property and transmission facilities that can be used to support the expeditious development of the project. National Grid also has a longstanding relationship with communities in the North Country, working with them to meet their needs. Project costs will be estimated as the project’s design and scope are finalized and will be shared between NYPA and National Grid. The selection of National Grid as a co-developer for the NNYPTP is subject to the Authority and National Grid reaching agreement on proposed terms and conditions for development of the project.

“We are pleased to select National Grid as our co-participant as we move forward with the Northern New York Priority Transmission Project, which will help clear the way for more renewable energy to meet the needs of New Yorkers across the state,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “The Power Authority is pleased to lead the development of this major infrastructure project that will benefit New Yorkers for years to come and also harden our electric system against adverse weather events.”

“National Grid is pleased to have been selected to develop and build this important transmission link, which will help enable the integration of clean, renewable energy into the New York grid,” said Rudolph Wynter, incoming President of National Grid New York. “NYPA was seeking a partner in this priority transmission project that could bring tangible benefits to the project and quickly get it developed and built. We’re looking forward to supporting New York’s transition to a clean energy future.” 

NYPA owns and operates approximately one third of New York’s high voltage power lines. These lines transmit power from NYPA’s three large hydroelectric generation facilities and independent wind power generation facilities, connecting nearly 7,000 megawatts of renewable energy to New York State’s power grid. This includes connecting more than 6,300 megawatts of hydroelectric power and about 700 megawatts, or more than a third, of New York State generated wind energy to the grid. NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating more than 1,400 circuit miles of transmission lines and 16 generating facilities.

New York State Senate Energy Chair Kevin Parker said, “I’m pleased to see the New York Power Authority and National Grid teaming up on this important transmission project. These transmission upgrades will benefit New Yorkers by securing New York’s energy system against extreme weather events and help to eliminate greenhouse gases by enabling the flow of more renewable energy sources to support New York’s electric grid.”

New York State Assembly Energy Chair Michael Cusick said, “Improving our state’s energy transmission infrastructure is vitally important to ensuring a strong and secure energy grid. Upgrading and expanding our transmission lines will create hundreds of jobs and continue our statewide efforts to meet the ambitious energy and climate goals set forth by the CLCPA. This project is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to achieving these goals.” 

For information about the project, including the opportunity to attend public meetings pertaining to it, visit www.nypa.gov/NNYPTP.

About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieving its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including over $4 billion invested in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings. 

About National Grid

About National Grid: National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.