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For Immediate Release: 01/18/2024 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
24008/22-E-0064 January 18, 2024
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PSC Allows $1.2 Billion Clean-Energy Project in New York City to Move Forward |
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Project Addresses Increased Customer Demand for Electricity and Advances State’s Climate Goals ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today authorized the completion of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.’s (Con Edison) Reliable Clean City project that will be built in Queens. The $1.2 billion project is needed to maintain the reliability of Con Edison’s electrical system. In addition, it can be used to create new points of interconnection for energy storage and future clean energy projects, as well as mitigating future reliability concerns stemming from load growth.
“With today’s decision, Con Edison will be making infrastructure investments that are designed to promote the transition to a clean-energy economy while ensuring the reliability of the electric grid overall,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “Our action today is a win-win for the company’s customers and the environment.”
According to the company’s load forecast and distribution area station planning design criteria, the 27 kilovolt (kV) Jamaica distribution area substation, which provides power to the large swaths of New York City, will exceed its 492-megawatt (MW) design capacity by 6 MW as early as 2026. The company proposes to address the load growth by splitting the Jamaica network into two separate networks, a smaller Jamaica Network, and a new Springfield Network, as well as building the new Eastern Queens transmission substation and Idlewild distribution area substation to supply the Springfield network and transfer 170 MW of load from the Jamaica network distribution area substation to the Idlewild distribution area substation. The project must also obtain local permits.
The Idlewild project and similar projects like it will address increased customer demand due to electrification are necessary to achieve the State’s climate goals. Specifically, the project is important to the State’s efforts to reduce economywide greenhouse gas emissions (CHG) to 85 percent of 1990 levels by 2050 as codified in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $46 billion in 65 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 170,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector as of 2022 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 22-E-0064 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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