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New York
Every day, millions of people in New York rely on the energy grid to power our modern way of life. Thanks to a network of transmission lines that carry energy from where it’s generated to where it’s used, we’re able to heat and cool our homes, keep the lights on at our businesses, get online for work and school, and even charge our vehicles — and we rarely think twice about it. Until the power goes out. Unfortunately, many of America’s transmission lines were built in the 1950s and 1960s and were only intended to have a 50-year lifespan. We’re way overdue for an upgrade.
Strengthening New York’s existing transmission infrastructure will ensure we can all enjoy reliable energy while also bringing thousands of new living-wage jobs to the state, lowering energy costs, and accelerating the clean energy transition.
Transmission Means Cleaner Energy.
Helping Us Achieve Our Nation-Leading Clean Energy Goals
Leaders in New York are making major investments in clean energy, supporting the state’s goal to produce 70% of its energy from renewable resources by 2030. The state is well-positioned to create lower-cost energy through offshore wind, but that alone won’t get us to our goals. We need more transmission capacity to transport that clean energy to all the places we live, work, and play.
Transmission Means Jobs.
Thousands of Living-Wage, Clean Energy Jobs
By some estimates, the U.S. needs to build as many as 91,000 miles of new transmission lines in the next 13 years — which means new high-paying jobs across the country. Here in New York, investments in clean energy and transmission could create 35,000 good-paying jobs in the next 30 years.
Transmission Means Affordability.
Electricity Savings for Homes and Businesses
Expanding transmission infrastructure across eastern states will allow households to tap into low-cost wind and solar energy and could potentially cut the average home electricity bill by a third. That means a typical household in the east would save $300 every year on utility costs.
Transmission Means Reliability.
Keeping the Power On When Extreme Temperatures Strike
Like the rest of the warming world, New York will see an increase in deadly heat waves year after year. Climate change models indicate that the state will likely experience an additional 57 days above 90 degrees by 2050 — and that means more electricity demand to keep homes and businesses cool. Improving the state’s existing transmission infrastructure and building more lines will help grid operators meet energy demand and avoid the risk of blackouts when summer temperatures soar.