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For Immediate Release: 12/15/2022 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
22118/20-E-0197 December 15, 2022
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PSC Approves $98 Million for Development of NYSEG Transmission Projects |
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New Transmission Lines Will Help New York Meet Climate Act Goals and Spur Local Economic Growth and Job Creation ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the first round of funding of $98 million requested by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) to continue to develop 27 local transmission projects valued at $1.27 billion that will support Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals. The remainder of the funding will be decided in future rate cases. The projects are expected to be in service by 2030 or earlier.
“Transmission projects like these, and the other related projects, will significantly improve the deliverability of renewable generation in New York State,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “These projects improve reliability and support efforts to meet obligations under the Climate Act and provide economic benefits through reduced curtailments, and improved reliability.”
In addition to providing the reliability of the critical transmission system and other traditional infrastructure benefits to the company’s customers, the approved projects will address transmission bottlenecks that limit delivery of upstate renewable energy to the bulk system and provide storm resiliency benefits. Importantly, the new transmission projects will help spur economic growth and opportunities in upstate New York communities and increase local employment opportunities as well.
NYSEG originally proposed a group of 23 local transmission projects. After breaking down NYSEG’s proposals into 46 components, the Commission found that 27 of the re-categorized projects would improve system headroom for new renewable generation and authorized NYSEG to continue development of those projects. Meanwhile, the Commission found that the remaining 19 projects are not necessary to support CLCPA goals at this time.
NYSEG operates approximately 35,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines across more than 40 percent of upstate New York. NYSEG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, serves 907,336 electricity customers. The new upgrades will be to existing facilities.
The landmark Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, companion
legislation to the CLCPA, requires the Commission and the utilities, including the Long Island Power
Authority, to develop plans that provide for the timely development of local transmission and
distribution upgrades needed to meet the CLCPA targets. The approved NYSEG projects won the support of several parties in the proceeding, including the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc.
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 more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021, 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 20-E-0197 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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