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For Immediate Release: 06/16/2022 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
22056 / 21-E-0628
June 16, 2022
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PSC Authorizes Construction of 135 MW Battery Storage Facility in NYC |
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$300 Million Project Will Spur Clean Energy Resources in New York City ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the construction and operation of a battery-based energy storage facility with a capacity of up to 135 megawatts (MW) located in Astoria, Queens. The $300 million-facility, known as Luyster Creek Energy Storage, will be built by Astoria Generating Company, L.P. The facility will be developed and operated on a merchant basis and participate in the wholesale energy market. The facility is expected to be operational by 2024.
“Energy storage is vital to building flexibility into the grid and advancing Governor Hochul’s ambitious clean energy goals,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The Luyster Creek project advances New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable energy goals as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), including 3,000 MW of statewide energy storage capacity by 2030.”
The Commission found that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental impacts and will help advance environmental justice goals by reducing reliance on older oil- and natural gas-fired peaker plants in New York City. The Commission also found that the project fits within New York City’s energy goals and policies.
The PSC’s decision is in line with Governor Hochul’s plan to significantly increase battery storage in New York State. On January 5, 2022, Governor Hochul announced in the State of the State plans to double the State’s energy storage target to at least 6 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. The Department of Public Service and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) are in the process of updating the Energy Storage Roadmap to reflect the expanded goal.
The Luyster Creek developer said the project will generate positive economic benefits to the surrounding communities with the addition of temporary construction jobs and local spending for construction in the area while the facility is being built. The expectation is that many of these positions will be filled by skilled labor in the community and surrounding areas.
Astoria Generating currently owns and operates three electrical generating facilities in New York City: the Astoria Generating Station located in Astoria, Queens, and the Gowanus and Narrows Generating Stations, both located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State'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 achieve 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 investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, 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 are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
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 21-E-0628 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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