Cuomo announces large grid project in New York for renewables

Approximately 78 miles of World War II-era transmission will be rebuilt in northern New York as part of a $440 million project to spur renewable energy development and help the state meet its 50 by 30 goal (50% of carbon emissions free electricity by 2030).

The project is expected to begin in 2019 and will several years to complete. Announced on July 21, 2017, the newly rebuilt transmission line, called the Moses-Adirondack Smart Path Reliability project, will be capable of transmitting up to 345 kV but will be operated in the near term at its current level of 230 kV.

Cuomo, said in a recent statement that the reconstructed line will be able to carry hydropower from the New York Power Authority's St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt hydro plant as well as zero-free emissions electricity from newly built wind farms and solar projects in the state to higher population areas.

"This critical upgrade will help strengthen our clean energy economy in every corner of the state, and help New York reach its nation-leading clean energy standard," Governor Cuomo said. "By investing in the long-term sustainability of our state's energy infrastructure today, we are helping to ensure New Yorkers will have access to a cleaner, greener future for years to come."

In 2012, the governor released the New York Energy Highway Blueprint, looking for an investment in transmission to assist the flow of clean energy across the state's power grid and contribute to a stronger wholesale energy market.

Many environmental proponents support the project. "A robust transmission network is essential for New York 's efforts to scale up and deploy renewable energy ," Rory Christian, director of New York clean energy at the Environmental Defense Fund, said. "This will increase opportunities to develop clean energy sources throughout the state, and connect the downstate region to existing affordable electricity generated in upstate New York ."

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