First Sections of Smart Path Connect Project Energized
Modernization of Major Transmission Arteries to Harden New York’s Energy Backbone Against Extreme Weather, Support Clean Energy Jobs and Advance New York’s Clean Energy Goals
View a Map of SmartPath Connect and a Comprehensive Map of New Statewide Transmission Investments
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced significant progress on the Smart Path Connect transmission project, a critically important transmission rebuild effort in two key state transmission corridors, led by the New York Power Authority and National Grid. The Smart Path Connect project will modernize more than 100 miles of transmission lines in the North County and the Mohawk Valley. Today’s announcement celebrates the energization of more than half of Smart Path Connect’s upgraded transmission lines, including 36 miles in the Mohawk Valley and 38 in the North Country. When complete, the upgraded and new energy infrastructure will allow for increased power transfer capacity, enable the flow of more renewable energy, and enhance reliability and resiliency of the state power grid while at the same time advancing goals outlined in the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Governor Hochul announced the start of this project late last year.
“New York State is making measurable progress in rebuilding and expanding new transmission lines to meet the state’s growing demand for clean, reliable energy,” said Governor Hochul. “Transmission projects like Smart Path Connect reinforce existing infrastructure so that our grid is more resilient in the face of extreme weather, while also enabling it to carry more clean energy across the state and foster economic development.”
NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “New York State is currently experiencing the largest buildout of transmission in forty years. Not only are these investments critical to the safety and functionality of the lines, but they are needed to ensure the transmission system is able to adapt to increasingly severe storms and to meet the growing energy demands of our modern society. Transmission development focus is a foundational part of NYPA’s VISION2030 strategic plan. The energization of several sections of the Smart Path Connect line helps bring the state that much closer to meeting its bold climate goals and strengthens our emerging clean energy economy.”
President of National Grid New York Rudy Wynter said, “Energizing the first miles of Smart Path Connect marks an important step forward in New York’s clean energy transition and National Grid’s commitment to enhancing the resiliency of systems we use to transmit electricity. Unlocking more renewable energy for our customers and partners delivers on our promise to ensure an energy future that is clean, fair and affordable, sparking economic and workforce growth. Today’s announcement is an important first milestone in our pursuit of a smarter, stronger and cleaner energy grid.”
Smart Path Connect is a multi-faceted project that includes rebuilding approximately 45 miles of transmission eastward from Massena to the Town of Clinton, led by the New York Power Authority and rebuilding approximately 55 miles of transmission southward from Croghan to Marcy led by National Grid NY. The work involves construction of several new substations as well as upgrades to several existing substations.
When completed, the two Smart Path Connect segments will be connected by Smart Path, NYPA’s rebuild of the Moses to Adirondack transmission lines which was energized earlier this year. The two lines will form one continuous 345 KV transmission line between Clinton and Oneida Counties, reinforcing the statewide grid and connecting economical, clean, and renewable energy into the power system including power from newly constructed and proposed renewable energy sources. Like Smart Path, Smart Path Connect falls primarily within existing transmission rights-of-way in Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis and Oneida counties.
Once complete, the Smart Path Connect project will help unbottle existing renewable resources in the region and yield significant production cost savings, emissions reductions, and decreases in transmission congestion. It is estimated to result in more than 1.16 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually on a statewide basis and an annual reduction of an estimated 160 tons of NOx emissions. NYPA estimates the project will provide more than $447 million in annual congestion savings in northern New York and the project has created hundreds of clean energy jobs during construction.
In addition to Smart Path and Smart Path Connect, several other New York State transmission projects are progressing toward completion or are completed and in service. These include NYPA and LS Power New York's Central East Energy Connect project which involves the rebuild and expansion of nearly 100 miles of historically heavily congested transmission lines in the Utica/Albany corridor. Two recently energized transmission lines are New York Transco's New York Energy Solution, which rebuilt approximately 54 miles of transmission lines in the Hudson Valley, and NextEra Energy Transmission New York's Empire State Line Project which built approximately 20 miles in Western New York.
In addition, several other large transmission projects are either underway or awaiting permitting. The Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission Project, developed by Transmission Developers Inc., celebrated its halfway milestone earlier this summer and Clean Path New York, a project developed through a collaboration between NYPA and Forward Power (a joint venture of Invenergy and energyRe) and Propel New York Energy, a collaboration between NYPA and N.Y. Transco. All told, New York’s transmission investments total nearly 1,000 miles of new and upgraded New York State transmission lines that will help advance New York's bold clean energy goals.
For more information on the Smart Path Connect Project, please visit NYPA’s Smart Path Connect website.
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, more than $1 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.