NYISO Supports Governor's Proposal to Streamline Grid Improvements

RENSSELAER, NY (01/08/2014)(readMedia)-- In response to Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2014 State of the State address, Stephen G. Whitley, president and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), offered the following comments:

"Governor Cuomo is providing a sustained focus on the need for investment in the energy infrastructure of New York state. The governor's New York Energy Highway Initiative provides the leadership necessary to enhance the reliability, resilience and efficiency of the transmission system. The result will improve competition across New York while enhancing the ability of renewable resources to help meet the downstate energy demands.

"Streamlining the regulatory review process for transmission projects is a natural extension of the power plant siting reforms approved in 2011. Open, competitive wholesale electricity markets, combined with regulatory certainty, will help drive investment in energy projects within New York. Since 2000, when New York faced a serious need for new power resources, there has been investment estimated to exceed $10 billion with the addition of more than 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity. Streamlining the transmission approval process for projects that will utilize existing rights of way is a sensible way to promote the investments that are necessary to address the need to replace and upgrade our aging transmission infrastructure.

"Efforts to energize New York's economy depend on the reliable supply of electricity. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo, the Public Service Commission, Senate Energy Chair Maziarz and Assembly Energy Chair Paulin on measures to bolster New York's power grid and electricity markets."