Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Central East Energy Connect Transmission Line
93-Mile Transmission Rebuild by LS Power and the New York Power Authority Runs from Marcy to New Scotland, Enhances Reliability
CEEC Upgraded Lines Carry Five Times as Much Clean Energy, Support New York’s Climate Action Goals
View a CEEC Line Map and a Statewide Map of New Transmission Lines
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the Central East Energy Connect transmission project, which is an upgrade of transmission lines between Marcy in Oneida County and New Scotland in Albany County to relieve congestion and enable integration of more renewable energy into the state power grid. The 93-mile transmission line project involved the installation of more than 650 new steel transmission monopoles as well as the construction of two new state-of-the-art transmission substations at Gordon Road in Rotterdam, and in Princetown, both in Schenectady County, which will allow for increased power transfer capacity and more reliable transmission. The newly rebuilt transmission corridor can carry nearly five times the amount of electricity as the old lines, enough to power approximately 2 million homes. The New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll celebrated the completion of the project today accompanied by LS Power CEO Paul Segal, and President and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator Rich Dewey, along with other state energy and environment representatives.
“Upgrading New York’s transmission system is key to building our clean energy future,” Governor Hochul said. “This upgraded line from Marcy to Albany was built on time and within budget and will enable more renewables to power New York’s homes and businesses. New Yorkers will benefit from this investment in the state’s power grid today and into the future.”
The more than $600 million CEEC transmission improvement project, built for approximately $200 million less than the estimated cost provided by New York Independent System Operator’s (NYISO) independent evaluation, kicked off construction in February 2021. The project upgraded energy transmission capacity along an existing 93-mile transmission line in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Region, a heavily congested corridor for energy transmission. A joint project by LS Power Grid New York and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the upgrades allow for the flow of more renewable energy across the state and help put New York on track to meet its nation leading clean energy goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which includes a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy-wide carbon neutrality.
The CEEC upgrade project involved replacing existing lines and wooden poles, some of which are about 60 years old, with stronger steel monopoles in existing utility rights-of-way and building two new substations. In total, the project removed approximately 1,250 aging transmission structures and replaced them with more than 650 monopoles. This work increased the resiliency of the line to strengthen it against extreme weather and supports the transmission of clean energy across the state. View recent photos of line construction.
The project is part of a larger buildout of transmission projects across the state, including more than 1,000 miles of planned transmission investments that will maximize the use of renewable energy for parts of the state that rely heavily on fossil fuel plants.
In addition to the completion of the CEEC project, several other New York State transmission projects are progressing toward completion or are completed and in service, including NYPA’s Smart Path which was completed earlier this year and Smart Path Connect, a transmission rebuild project in the North Country and Oneida County that NYPA is working on with National Grid. Two recently energized transmission lines are New York Transco’s New York Energy Solution, which recently completed the rebuild of approximately 54 miles of transmission lines in the Hudson Valley, and NextEra Energy Transmission New York’s Empire State Line Project which completed approximately 20 new transmission miles in Western New York.
LS Power CEO Paul Segal said, “We’re extremely proud to have completed the CEEC project on time and on budget. Thank you to NYISO for selecting LS Power Grid New York and thank you to our project partner, NYPA, for helping steer this project to success. With the energization of the CEEC transmission facility, LS Power Grid New York will help expand and strengthen New York state’s electric grid and meet the state’s clean energy goals. Moreover, the project’s success underscores why a transparent and competitive process to build transmission infrastructure is so important – as it delivers savings to consumers. In this case, LS Power Grid New York provided cost containment provisions that reduced costs for New York state electricity ratepayers by more than $200 million over the life of the project.”
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “New York’s clean energy economy depends on a robust, resilient, reliable power grid. The Central East Energy Connect corridor was plagued by congestion and outdated infrastructure related problems for decades. Now with the state’s prioritization of clean energy infrastructure investment, a more streamlined bidding process, and the industry’s synergy in working together to upgrade our transmission system, we are making great progress in modernizing our grid. I am so proud of our transmission team and our colleagues at LS Power for completing this Central East Energy Connect project within three years.”
New York Independent System Operator President and CEO Rich Dewey said, “Congratulations to LS Power Grid New York and the New York Power Authority on the timely completion of this important transmission upgrade. This investment will improve grid resiliency, move more clean energy as we electrify the economy, attract economic development, and advance the state’s climate goals.”
State Senator Joseph Griffo said, “It is important that we continue to invest in, upgrade and modernize our energy infrastructure. This project will provide more individuals, families, businesses and communities with access to reliable energy.”
Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said, “As New York continues to grow so does the demand for affordable energy. We must continue to explore all sources of safe and affordable energy. This upgrade is one aspect of how we can meet the demand of the power grid for both our residents and businesses.”
Visit the Central East Energy Connect project website for more information.
About LS Power
LS Power Grid New York is an LS Power company dedicated to delivering reliable and cost-effective transmission infrastructure for New York. LS Power is a development, investment and operating company focused on the North American power and energy infrastructure sector. Since its inception in 1990, in addition to its development of over 780 miles of high voltage transmission, LS Power has developed, constructed, managed or acquired more than 47,000 MW of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, natural gas-fired and battery energy storage projects. Additionally, LS Power actively invests in businesses focused on renewable energy and fuels, as well as distributed energy resource platforms, such as CPower Energy Management, Endurant Energy and EVgo. Across its efforts, LS Power has raised $54 billion in debt and equity financing to support North American infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.LSPower.com
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York’s unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
