
The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a series of infrastructure projects with a combined value of $636.2m to alleviate grid constraints.
The approval includes initiatives proposed by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, (Con Edison), Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, operating as National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E).
The approved projects encompass 29 initiatives collectively providing 642MW of new electrification capacity. This move is expected to expedite the decarbonisation efforts in New York‘s transportation and building sectors.
Con Edison has been tasked with overseeing five projects within its service area, amounting to $439.9m and delivering 380 MW of new capacity. This includes a major expansion at Zerega Avenue, aimed at fleet electrification, and a redesign of the Hunt’s Point electrical system to facilitate widespread pollution reduction.
National Grid will manage 22 projects in its upstate service area, valued at $126m for 184.8 MW of new capacity. These projects include the deployment of mobile energy storage devices for high-power charging along major Thruway corridors and the expansion of network components for electrification.
In NYSEG’s service area, one project has been approved, costing $37.1m and providing 30MW of new capacity. This project aims to facilitate vehicle and building electrification, including a significant industrial electrification initiative.
RG&E will handle one project in its service area, with an investment of $33.2m for 47MW of new capacity. This project is set to expand electric vehicle charging capabilities and support large-scale building electrification.
Commission chair Rory M. Christian said: “We are approving these projects today because significant grid capacity is needed to support electrification across vehicle duty classes and buildings.
“Grid constraints have already begun to limit electrification in some parts of the state. The urgent grid upgrade projects would expand grid capacity in many areas of the state, relieving urgent constraints on an accelerated basis while a broader, unified planning framework is developed.”