Dive Brief:
- The New York Public Service Commission on Thursday approved a 90-mile transmission line that aims to increase power flows, including from offshore wind, between Long Island and the rest of the state. The $3.26 billion project is being developed by New York Transco and the New York Power Authority.
- Opponents argued the project was no longer necessary due to the cancellation of several offshore wind projects. Regulators, however, pointed out that the state’s renewable energy goals remain unchanged despite project headwinds, and New York has more than 1,800 MW of offshore wind either operating or under construction.
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature made changes to the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act earlier this year, altering greenhouse gas reduction targets but maintaining a 9 GW offshore wind goal by 2035.
Dive Insight:
New York updated CLCPA emissions reduction targets this year, acknowledging the state had fallen behind its lofty ambitions, but the underlying renewable energy goals, including for offshore wind, were not changed.
“While it is true that the pace of offshore wind energy generation development has slowed ... contrary to the arguments made by some parties, the need for the project continues to exist,” the New York PSC said in its order. “Moreover, while some recent changes to the CLCPA have been made, the statutory targets ... were not modified, and the target that the statewide electric demand system be zero-emission by 2040 similarly remains in place.”
The New York ISO selected the Propel NY Energy transmission project in 2023 as part of its public policy transmission planning process, aiming to bolster downstate reliability. The project includes new underground transmission lines at both 138 kV and 345 kV levels, connecting to nine existing or new substations and running through Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Bronx and Westchester counties.
The PSC’s Thursday order adopted a joint proposal that included NYPA, New York Transco, staff of the New York State Department of Public Service, other state agencies, the City of New York and the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association.
The commission’s review demonstrated “that this critical infrastructure project meets our statutory siting standards and will help provide needed power downstate,” PSC Chair Rory Christian said in a statement.
Sea Cliff Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy told the Long Island Herald the village is "thoroughly reviewing the decision and weighing all available options for our next steps. ... Sea Cliff is not done protecting our residents, our community and our harbor.”
The PSC said it is continuing to review Propel NY’s Environmental Management and Construction plans for the line, which must receive approval before developers can break ground. The PSC will take comment on Propel NY’s EM&C plans until Oct. 1.
Propel NY developers say some construction could begin later this year “at discrete areas along the route” and “more comprehensive construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2027 pending receipt of all approvals and permits.”
Construction will be executed “in limited segments and phases,” developers said, with an aim to complete the project in 2030.
