4.14.22 - Canadian hydropower is coming to New York City. Here are the details.
'NEW YORK — State regulators Thursday cleared the path for a new transmission line to deliver Canadian hydropower to New York City, powering more than one million homes with clean energy.
It’s a significant step in helping the state meet its mandate of slashing emissions 40 percent by 2030. New York City is almost entirely powered by fossil fuels, making it a prime target for efforts to cut greenhouse gases. But the city’s density and the difficulty of siting large energy projects has made it difficult to clean up the famed skyline.
The Public Service Commission, the regulatory body that oversees the electric and gas industry, voted in favor of the contentious project because of its environmental benefits.
“As you all know, New York City is an area of the state that relies heavily on aging fossil fuel generation,” Rory Christian, the commission's chair, said in voting in favor of the project. “Simply put, if we can’t deliver renewable energy in New York City, we can’t reduce emissions from that fossil fuel fleet.”
Details: Gov. Kathy Hochul in November threw her support behind the effort when she finalized contracts for the hydropower project and a separate transmission line, Clean Path New York, which would deliver 1,300 megawatts of wind and solar power from upstate New York.
The Public Service Commission on Thursday also approved the contract for Clean Path New York, which would carry 1,300 megawatts of wind and solar power from upstate New York to the city. It’s backed by the New York Power Authority, Invenergy and a company with ties to real estate giant Related. But it’s still awaiting additional regulatory approvals, while the hydropower line is now fully clear to move forward.
Both projects would allow the city to get more than 60 percent of its power from renewable energy sources.
“I’m not comfortable with continuing to spend ratepayer money on the same dirty fossil fuels,” said commissioner Tracey Edwards, in casting a yes vote.'