By Jeff Jones
Achieving New York’s ambitions clean energy goals will new require upgrades to the state’s electric power transmission grid. This was the theme of ACE NY’s recent virtual event: Clean Energy and Transmission Town Hall. The June 25th webinar featured a new video, welcoming introduction by Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Kevin Parker, and a keynote by newly appointed Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment Ali Zaidi. A panel discussion moderated by ACE NY Executive Director Anne Reynolds followed, with an active question and answer session.
“New York will be bringing more and more renewable energy online,” Reynolds said, “This is good news: wind and solar are pollution-free and 22,000 New Yorkers already work in the renewable electricity industry. But for New York to actually achieve its renewable electricity goals we need to update the grid, parts of which were built more than half a century ago.”
The state’s new Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act requires New York to complete a study of what our current grid needs to most cost-effectively achieve the renewable energy goals – both for Upstate projects and for offshore wind power. The Transmission Town Hall was designed to update those interested in the future of renewable energy in New York and help open doors to greater involvement in the planning process. Over 250 people participated in the virtual event.
ACE NY Board President Kaley Bangston, of renewable energy developer Invenergy, introduced Senator Parker by recognizing his role as a legislative leader on energy, the COVID-19 crisis, and on addressing police violence directed at the Black community. The Senator spoke about the importance of clean energy as the state reopens after the shutdown. “We will need new jobs post-COVID,” Parker said. “The clean energy economy will be a leading sector.”
In his keynote, Deputy Secretary Zaidi recognized the need for an updated grid and described components of the Cuomo Administration’s clean energy strategy. Like Senator Parker, he emphasized the importance of good-paying clean energy jobs to rebuilding the State’s economy, the type of jobs created by Upstate wind and solar projects, by offshore wind projects, and by new transmission. Every mile of new transmission, he said, requires 10-15 skilled workers. Acknowledging the need to address North/South and East/West grid issues that need to be fixed, Zaidi also complimented New York’s electricity system for never faltering during the pandemic.
The panel discussion featured Mr. Bart Franey, Director of Transmission Planning, Asset Management, Systems and Data for National Grid; Ms. Rodica Donaldson, Senior Director, Commercial Transmission and Analytics, EDF Renewables North America; and Mr. Ryan Piche, the Manager of Lewis County, NY. Mr. Franey and Ms. Donaldson agreed that public investment in an upgraded grid will both incentivize and influence siting by renewable energy developers. Mr. Piche, while describing the strong support for renewable energy in Lewis County – which has benefitted from increased tax revenue and host community benefits paid by wind power developers – focused on the need for involving local voices in siting decisions. Lewis County already hosts more than 300 wind towers and is open to more. The County also wants to protect prime farmland and avoid infringing on areas that are in the state’s Adirondack Park.
A lively question and answer session followed. The virtual town hall was recorded and will be available shortly. As reiterated in ACE’s new short video, in New York, clean energy requires a new and improved grid. As we build the grid of the future, the better connected we are, the stronger we will be.