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Transmission

Greening the electricity grid with offshore wind.

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To support the rapid growth of renewable energy generation in the State, New York is developing a plan for upgrading our electricity grid with technologies that increase the capacity and effectiveness of our transmission system. Authorizing and building new transmission capacity will prepare the way for new renewable energy sources, including a growing supply of offshore wind, and bring clean power to areas of the state with the greatest need.

Regional Transmission Planning

On behalf of New York State, NYSERDA and the Department of Public Service participate in the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, a coalition of nine Northeast states, to explore enhanced transmission ties. An interregional approach to transmission solutions can help cost-effectively enhance grid reliability, improve market efficiency, expand clean energy use, and reduce costs for consumers.

Transmission Planning in New York

Transmission and interconnection strategies play a considerable role in offshore wind cost, feasibility, scalability, sizing, and implementation approaches. In its Offshore Wind Policy Options Paper [PDF], NYSERDA explored two of these strategies—direct radial and backbone. Direct radial transmission facilities are developed, sized, and constructed to support one offshore wind facility. Backbone transmission facilities are expandable to accommodate an initial facility as well as facilities built in the future. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each offshore design concept, both structures must reconcile their design with the physical parameters of lease locations, opportunities for coordination, and ultimately, with the technical constraints of interconnecting to New York’s electrical grid.

NYSERDA's early solicitations for offshore wind energy recommended a direct radial transmission approach dedicated to specific projects and owned by the developer. In the mid-term, the State sees value in planned transmission where a transmission developer advances pre-built transmission infrastructure to support multiple offshore wind generation developers. This approach can bring economy of scale to transmission development and orderly construction processes resulting in lower impacts to stakeholders and resources. In the longer term, the State will continue to evaluate the potential of a backbone approach – or offshore transmission grid – in its effort to provide an optimized set of solutions to New York’s ratepayers.

New York Power Grid Study

In 2020, New York State passed the [PDF]Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act  to accelerate progress towards the State’s clean energy transition. The Act instructed the State to conduct a New York Power Grid Study [PDF] to identify distribution upgrades, local transmission upgrades, and bulk transmission investments.

The Power Grid Study is comprised of three component studies:

  1. Utility Transmission & Distribution Investment Working Group Study
  2. Offshore Wind Integration Study
  3. Zero-Emissions Electric Grid in New York by 2040

To read the studies, review public comments, and engage in the public process, visit the Department of Public Service Matter Master 20-00905/20-E-0197 [PDF]Link opens in new window - close new window to return to this page..

New York Offshore Wind Cable Corridor Constraints Assessment

In response to the need for careful planning of cable routes identified in the Power Grid Study, NYSERDA conducted an Offshore Wind Cable Corridor Constraints Assessment to better understand siting offshore wind cables in New York State waters, at landfall, and along overland routes. The Assessment coordinates the analysis and evaluation of potential resource constraints, including natural and environmental, socioeconomic, and infrastructure, within corridor segments to support future policy actions that maximize benefits of offshore wind and minimize conflicts and impacts. Finally, the Assessment includes coordination with New York State agencies and ongoing and earnest engagement with key stakeholders.

Public Policy Transmission Need (PPTN)

New York’s Public Service Commission (PSC) also responded to the findings of the Power Grid Study in March 2021, declaring a PPTN to increase the ability to connect Long Island to the rest of New York State and to ensure deliverability of at least 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind interconnected to Long Island. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) conducted a competitive solicitation for solutions to address the Long Island PPTN, and in June 2023, the NYISO Board selected the Propel NY Energy project. Learn more about Propel NY Energy.

In June 2023, the PSC declared a PPTN to support the integration of an additional 4,770 megawatts of offshore wind into New York City. However, the PSC withdrew the PPTN in a July 2025 Order in light of the halting of all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore wind energy. The PSC determined that there is not sufficient certainty in the development timeline for offshore wind to justify a commitment of ratepayer funds for transmission infrastructure. The PSC Order provides NYSERDA with an opportunity to refine our efforts to support the long-term resilience of New York State’s offshore wind industry while continuing ongoing and critical stakeholder engagement and supply chain activities.

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Have a question about offshore wind in New York State? Contact NYSERDA offshore wind staff.