Today Clean Path New York, an $11 billion clean energy infrastructure project, was selected by New York State to deliver more than 7.5 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of emissions-free energy annually downstate and into New York City.
Clean Path New York is essential to meeting New York State’s nation-leading clean energy goals outlined in New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, the Climate Act, while also providing immense economic, environmental justice and public health benefits to all New Yorkers.
Developed with environmental justice at its core, Clean Path New York will significantly reduce criteria air pollutants emitted from electric generation sources and avoid significant social and public health costs, with many of these benefits accruing to disadvantaged communities statewide. Clean Path New York will develop a $270 million investment fund to support workforce development and education programs, health services and efficiency and electrification retrofits.
Project partners said in a press release that Clean Path New York is bringing new clean power generation and transmission to drive the shift away from fossil-based to low- and zero-carbon emission sources. This infrastructure project combines a 1,300-megawatt, 174-mile underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line with over 3,400 megawatts of new wind and solar projects in upstate New York, with availability and reliability maximized by the existing Blenheim-Gilboa pumped storage facility. This investment in New York will deliver 8,300 clean energy and construction jobs exclusively in the state.
The Clean Path New York project was formed as a response to a request for proposals from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) aimed at increasing the penetration of renewable energy into New York City. The project is a partnership of the New York Power Authority, Invenergy and energyRe.
“With this award the Clean Path New York project team can proceed with ensuring that the communities that host these major new transmission and generation infrastructure investments have the opportunity to participate and thrive in New York’s clean energy economy,” said Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO, New York Power Authority. “New York has not made this level of investment in energy infrastructure since the late 1950s to early 1960s. Clean Path New York will make New York a better place to live and work and will benefit all New Yorkers. This unprecedented energy project will have significant benefits for clean energy workforce development, including local apprenticeships and MWBE programs. Clean Path New York also brings increased funding for health services and medical care and programs to help address legacy environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities.”
“Developing a clean energy future is not only essential in the fight against climate change, it is also an economic opportunity that should directly benefit all New Yorkers across the state,” said Jeff Blau, Founding Partner of energyRe. “We at energyRe are proud to begin work on this critical project and to initiate a $270 million investment fund focused on health, education and job training to complement a public infrastructure project that will create a more environmentally just New York and employ thousands of New Yorkers in the process.”
“This landmark project will transform New York State, and indeed the nation, using renewable energy to deliver hugely positive impacts for citizens across New York for decades to come,” said Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO of Invenergy. “We are proud to add Clean Path New York to the expanding portfolio of Invenergy Transmission projects and that over half of the Clean Path New York generation portfolio are projects originally developed by Invenergy, and to build on our track record of working with public and private sector partners on energy infrastructure projects in New York and around the world that benefit the public for decades.”
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “Major green energy generation and transmission efforts like the Clean Path NY project are advancing New York’s grid of the future to help power New York City with clean renewable wind and solar from Upstate, delivering significant health benefits by reducing harmful emissions and driving the state’s economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. We look forward to partnering with Clean Path NY to ensure this project creates family-sustaining jobs for New Yorkers and brings community benefits to the state’s most polluted and disadvantaged communities while accelerating the State’s progress toward achieving our Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals.”
Routing and environmental work is underway on the Clean Path New York transmission line route from Delaware County, in New York’s Southern Tier economic development region, through the Mid-Hudson region to New York City. A majority of the transmission line will be built on existing rights-of-ways already used by roads and transmission lines. The robust and comprehensive state planning process ensures that the transmission line will follow the most optimal route, considering potential community impact and environmental stewardship. Clean Path New York’s route is designed specifically to minimize potential impacts to the Hudson River and avoid Haverstraw Bay.
