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New York Power Grid Study

 

In support of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the New York Power Grid Study was undertaken in order to identify distribution upgrades, local transmission upgrades, and bulk transmission investments that are necessary or appropriate for the power grid for the State of New York. An Initial Report of the Power Grid Study was published by the New York State Department of Public Service on January 19, 2021. This report was co-authored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and was developed in consultation with the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and New York’s investor-owned utilities (Utilities).

The primary purpose of this Initial Report is to provide recommendations to the Public Service Commission (PSC) for planning the investments in the New York electric system that are needed to meet CLCPA goals. As required by the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act Link opens in new window - close new window to return to this page., the PSC will use the results and findings from the Power Grid Study to support the development of distribution and local transmission capital plans for each utility and to establish a bulk system investment program. In March 2021, the PSC used the foundational work of the Power Grid Study to identify a Public Policy Transmission Need to ensure the full output from at least 3,000 MW of offshore wind is deliverable from Long Island to the rest of the State, and which will now be part of a New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) solicitation for transmission solutions to this identified need.

Component Studies

The New York Power Grid Study consists of three component studies:

  1. The “Utility Transmission & Distribution Investment Working Group Study” (Utility Study) describing the potential distribution and local transmission upgrades identified by each of the New York Utilities. It is attached to this Initial Report as Appendix C.
  2. The “Offshore Wind Integration Study” (OSW Study) identifying possible grid interconnection points and offshore transmission configurations and assessing onshore bulk transmission needs relating to the integration of 9,000 MW of offshore-wind generation. It is attached to this Initial Report as Appendix D.
  3. The “Zero-Emissions Electric Grid in New York by 2040” study (Zero Emissions Study), evaluating generation and storage scenarios for meeting New York’s Zero-Emission goal by 2040 and achieving interim targets (e.g., 70% renewable generation by 2030) to identify bulk transmission upgrades potentially necessary to support the provision of adequate and reliable service at the lowest cost to New York’s electric consumers. It is attached to this Initial Report as Appendix E.

This Initial Report describes the overall conclusions of the three studies and provides a synthesis of the work considered as a whole. Where relevant, this Initial Report also references and considers the findings and information provided by stakeholders and in other studies, such as those performed by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).