The New York State Public Service Commission has given the green light to the development of 62 local transmission upgrades. These upgrades are expected to reduce congestion in three Upstate regions – the Capital Region, the southwest, and northern parts of New York.

These upgrades will create 3.5GW of renewable capacity, while reducing curtailment production from renewable energy. The plan includes upgrades to existing transmission lines, upgrades to existing substations, and the construction of three new substations. The transmission projects will be completed between 2024 and 2030.

The Commission has recognized the need to address congestion in parts of the State where renewable energy is already bottlenecked, as well as where additional generation projects are under development, or consideration for development. Under the Commission’s new framework, the aim is to support 10GW of distributed solar by 2030.

The initiative is part of the state’s larger plan to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, with 70% of renewable energy generation by the end of the decade. The state has allocated US$35 billion to invest in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state.