A Bridge to Everywhere: Why New York must Continue Investing in Transmission Infrastructure
By: Alicia Gené Artessa
New York stands at a crossroads: to continue investing in upgrading transmission infrastructure to connect renewable energy generation to the grid, or do nothing and wait for a new federal administration. While it may seem like an easy question, unfortunately, the uncertainty coming down from the federal government makes this much more complicated. At the same time, New Yorkers are facing an energy affordability crisis that is rightfully impacting policymakers’ decisions. While the stakes are impossibly high for the energy industry and New Yorkers, the state must remain steadfast and continue investing in transmission infrastructure now, while we work to address the challenges coming from Washington.
The historic lack of investment in New York's electric grid and transmission infrastructure caused the need for massive upgrades, regardless of the energy source. These upgrades are the driving force behind these enormous price increases. Ultimately, upgrading our system is necessary to maintain the level of service consumers are accustomed to and to ensure access to reliable electricity.
If New York viewed the build-out of our transmission and distribution systems like other public infrastructure projects, like roads and bridges, it would make this question simpler. It is time to view energy development as integral to our society as bridge work. The reality is that everything is going to be more expensive now because our grid infrastructure needs to be overhauled. Unfortunately, status quo at no cost is not an option. We need more energy to meet rising demand, and our transmission and distribution lines need to be upgraded to deliver that energy. This message must be communicated to the public by the state to explain the gravity of the energy crisis and explain the need for this investment.
While it seems like a no-win situation, this is an opportunity for New York. The state must continue planning and building out transmission infrastructure now while we wait for federal policies to realign. This is the most efficient use of time and resources while federal permitting backlogs persist — New York state can make significant progress in a time where seemingly no progress is to be made. Importantly, building out transmission now will save ratepayers money long-term. If the state continues momentum on building out transmission infrastructure, it will signal to the market that we are still open for business and spur more private investment. The severe uncertainty hitting all industries from the federal government can only be right sized if states step up.
While we hear from policymakers the proverbial “Bridge to Nowhere” should be feared and prevented, that narrative is false. New York has the opportunity to build the “Bridge to Everywhere” and should use this time wisely to set us up for future success. By continuing to invest in transmission infrastructure, the state will be ready for the much-needed new generation that will be developed in the not-so-distant future and save ratepayers money in the long run.
The energy industry has grappled with the chicken-or-the-egg scenario as it relates to generation and transmission long before now. The worst-case scenario is for an energy generation project to be finished and have no transmission line to connect to. Ironically, the decision has been made for us: we are forced to work through the long and arduous transmission process while we wait for the federal stall on generation projects to lift.
Realistically, we do not have time to waste. Last week, New York’s Independent System Operator (NYISO) released its short-term reliability report, warning that the New York grid faces increased risk of power shortages over the next five years unless planned projects, including new transmission and offshore wind resources, are brought online. Specifically, New York City could face shortfalls of thousands of megawatt hours as early as the summer of 2026 and over 10,000 MWh by 2030. This increases the risks of blackouts for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.
NYISO warns that risks could rise even higher if there are more generator retirements or failures, which are especially likely because of New York’s old and aging power infrastructure. This makes it more critical that we succeed in bringing our current projects online and building out transmission for future energy generation. The alarm bell has been sounded — we need to act.
