National Grid have announced the relocation of a 1.9-mile section of a 115 kV electric transmission line in Genesee County. This move aims to open over 300 acres of land for future development at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) site.
Previously, the transmission line ran through a portion of the 1,250-acre site, but it has now been rerouted to run alongside it. This relocation will enable future tenants at STAMP, including Plug Power and Edwards, to receive clean hydropower from the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, New York. This aligns with New York’s goal, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, to obtain 70% of electricity statewide from renewable sources by 2030 and transition to a zero-emission grid.
STAMP is set to receive significant investment, with Plug Power and Edwards committing over $1 billion for projects in the green hydrogen and semiconductor sectors. These investments are expected to generate up to 680 new jobs that provide sustainable incomes. Plug Power is constructing the largest green hydrogen manufacturing facility in North America, investing $677 million to produce 74 tons of green hydrogen per day. Edwards, on the other hand, is investing around $319 million to build a semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility known as its “factory of the future.”
“Between Edwards and Plug Power, and recent infrastructure upgrades thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State, STAMP has generated $1 billion of capital investment and National Grid has played a vital role in helping us attract site projects that will benefit Genesee County and surrounding communities, including the Buffalo and Rochester regions, for generations to come,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “The hydropower provided by the New York Power Authority and the infrastructure built by National Grid are energizing companies of the future right here at STAMP, giving us a competitive advantage as we compete globally for companies in these emerging business sectors.”
“The electric infrastructure and equipment needed to serve STAMP customers are state-of-the-art and will provide the necessary capacity to deliver renewable hydropower to Plug Power and Edwards, as well as future STAMP tenants,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. He added that the transmission circuit at STAMP is paired with an additional 115 KV transmission line that will be connected to a 600-megawatt substation that is currently under construction. “We have a responsibility to provide affordable, reliable power to our customers and the GCEDC and Genesee County community are building something special at STAMP.”
National Grid, in addition to collaborating with the GCEDC on the transmission line relocation, has shown its commitment to STAMP by providing funding through its economic development programs. Since 2003, National Grid’s suite of 18 economic development programs has contributed over $145 million to support the site’s marketing efforts. These programs have played a crucial role in creating or retaining over 65,000 jobs and supporting approximately $10.5 billion in private and public investment throughout upstate New York.
