ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the rebuild of two upstate transmission lines needed to help speed the flow of renewable energy upstate. The rebuilt lines are also needed to improve reliability and an additional interconnection between two high voltage transmission systems designed to reduce system congestion.
“Given the tremendous demand for electricity we are seeing, now more than ever, it is critically important that we have a robust transmission system to deliver power where it is needed most,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The projects we are approving today will help in that process.”
In one ruling, the Commission granted National Grid approval to rebuild portions of the 115 kilovolt (kV) Southeast Batavia - Golah 119 Line traversing the Town and Village of LeRoy in Genesee County, the town and village of Caledonia in Livingston County, and the towns of Rush and Wheatland in Monroe County. The project is designed to replace aging infrastructure and to increase the capacity of the transmission system to accommodate future renewable generation in support of the state’s climate goals. The cost of the project has not yet been finalized or made public. No party opposed the application to rebuild 16.3 miles of existing transmission line.
In a second ruling, the Commission granted National Grid approval to rebuild 50.72 miles of 115 kVt transmission lines from Inghams substation in the Town of Manheim, Herkimer County, to the Rotterdam Substation in the Town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, traversing the towns of Princetown and Rotterdam in Schenectady County, the towns of Ephratah, Johnstown, Oppenheim, and Perth, and the City of Johnstown in Fulton County, the towns of St. Johnsville, Amsterdam, Mohawk and Florida, and the Village of Hagaman in Montgomery County, and the Town of Manheim in Herkimer County.
In addition to National Grid and Department of Public Service staff, the proposal for the Inghams substation project was signed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The project will also construct a new Saltsman Road substation in the Town of Ephratah, Fulton County.
The project will cost approximately $489 million, and it will provide necessary transmission reinforcements, replace transmission line facilities that have reached the end of their useful life, and accommodate renewable energy generation projects.
In a third decision, the Commission granted New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) petition to amend a portion of an existing Article VII Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN), which was originally granted January 21, 2021. The CECPN granted NYPA and LS Power Grid New York the authority to construct an approximately 93-mile, 345 kV transmission line starting at the Edic substation in Marcy and terminating at the New Scotland substation in Albany. The amendment will allow NYPA to interconnect the facility to National Grid's 115 kV system at the planned Ames Road Substation in the Town of Canajoharie, Montgomery County.
Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 25-T-0152 (Batavia-Golah line), 25-T-0262 (Inghams-Rotterdam line), or 19-T-0549 (NYPA interconnection) in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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