The Governor of New York has announced that the New York State Public Service Commission has approved the construction of a US$530 million transmission line project. The New York Energy Solution Project; an 88-kilometer, 345-kilovolt transmission line that will start in Rensselaer County and extend to Dutchess County is expected to speed the flow of clean, reliable energy to high-demand markets and consumers downstate. These initiatives increase transmission capacity to move power more efficiently in keeping with the goals of both the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefits Act to lower carbon emissions and combat climate change.
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The Public Service Commission also granted NextEra Energy Transmission New York, the necessary approvals to exercise municipal agreements to build the Empire State Line; a 32-kilometer, 345-kilovolt electric transmission line, located in Niagara and Erie counties and valued at an estimated US$180 million, that will help reduce congestion and maximize the flow of renewable resources in Western New York. These approvals by the PSA are the final set of major approvals needed to begin construction on the 400 kilometers of the green energy transmission superhighway this year, as announced in Governor Cuomo’s 2021 State of the State address.
“New York is leading the nation in developing a green economy with key investments to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the State’s energy infrastructure. These projects are essential to helping create our new green energy superhighway that will move electricity to high demand areas efficiently while also reducing costs and helping to create new jobs.” Governor Andrew Cuomo stated in a recent announcement.
The Empire State Line will help relieve congestion and maximize the flow of renewable resources in Western New York, including hydroelectric power from the New York Power Authority’s Niagara Power Project, and from electricity imports from Ontario. The transmission project will involve the construction of the transmission line and associated switchyards in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County and the Towns of Alden, Newstead, Lancaster, and Elma in Erie County.
