mediacontact


For Immediate Release: 7/20/2023 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact: James Denn \| James.Denn@dps.ny.gov \| (518) 474-7080 http://www.dps.ny.gov http://twitter.com/NYSDPS 23074 / 20-T-0103; 18-T-0207; 22-T-0654; 10-T-0139 July 20, 2023
PSC Approves Transmission Changes for 4 Upstate Projects
Transmission Upgrades Increase System Reliability and Meet Climate Act Requirements Projects Will Create Good-Paying Construction Jobs in Upstate New York ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved modifications to four major transmission projects in New York that are needed to help ensure reliability and improve the flow of clean energy across the State. “New York is making significant upgrades and additions to the State’s existing transmission and distribution systems to integrate new large-scale renewable energy projects into the State’s energy supply, and we must ensure that these investments are smart and cost-effective,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The modifications to existing or under-development transmission line projects we are approving today meet that definition.” The four separate transmission-related decisions include the following: Rochester Transmission Project: The Commission granted Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation’s request to amend its certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Rochester Transmission Project. The project includes the construction of a new 115 kilovolt (kV) line approximately 6.7 miles in length beginning in the Town of Gates and ending in the City of Rochester, both in Monroe County. The project also includes the expansion of two substations, one in the Town of Gates and one in the City of Rochester, and the reconstruction of three existing transmission lines. The project is needed to increase reliability and strengthen the 115 kV network in western Rochester and will connect the expanded substations to address issues of low voltages and thermal overloads in the Rochester area. Smart Path: The Commission granted the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) request seeking changes to the $484 million rebuild of the 86-mile, 230 kV Moses-Adirondack 1&2 line, to become the Haverstock-Adirondack 1&2 line. NYPA sought Commission approval to operate what will become the Haverstock-Adirondack line at 345 kV; eliminate upgrades to a switchyard and substation and a 1.8 mile portion of right-of-way south of the Moses switchyard, all of which are no longer needed due to the separate, but related, Smart Path Connect project; and authorize an approximately 0.8 mile reroute from the north side of NYS Highway Route 131 to the south side of Route 131 in the Town of Massena, St. Lawrence County. When completed, the two segments of Smart Path Connect will join the Smart Path project, creating one continuous upgraded transmission line that traverses Oneida, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton counties. Lockport-Batavia: The Commission granted minor waivers regarding National Grid’s application for the utility’s rebuild of its 35-mile Lockport-Batavia transmission project in Niagara and Genesee counties. National Grid sought approval to use the most recent topographic maps prepared by the United States Geological Survey to show the location, length and capacity of the proposed facility. The utility also sought a waiver to use certain types of aerial photographs. Champlain Hudson: The Commission approved the Lake Champlain pre-lay mattressing segment (Segment 18A) filed by Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. and CHPE Properties, Inc., to install concrete mattresses to protect co-located submarine infrastructure in Lake Champlain in the Towns of Champlain and Chazy in Clinton County, and the Towns of Crown Point and Ticonderoga in Essex County. The primary purpose and primary benefit of these projects are climate mitigation and improving reliability, which benefits all New Yorkers. The secondary benefits, the direct local benefits, include high-paying construction jobs and tax payments to local municipalities arising from the expected capital investment related to the projects. 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 $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 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 trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and 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 decisions may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 20-T-0103 [Rochester Transmission Project]; 18-T-0207 [Smart Path]; and 22-T-0654 [Lockport-Batavia]; 10-T-0139 [Champlain Hudson] 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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PSC Approves Transmission Changes for 4 Upstate Projects