Report: New York’s power grid strained by old infrastructure, demand

New York’s electric power system may face shortfalls in supply starting next summer due to rising consumer demand and power plant retirements outpacing new construction. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) warned that the grid is at a significant inflection point and needs “several thousand megawatts of new dispatchable generation” within the next 10 years. The state’s aging infrastructure, rapid growth of large loads like data centers, and difficulty in developing new supply drive the state’s “profound reliability challenges.” The issue could potentially affect the Hudson Valley, too.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York’s electric power system faces possible shortfalls in supply starting next summer in New York City and on Long Island because of rising consumer demand and power plant retirements outpacing new construction. The New York Independent System Operator outlined the risks, cautioning about the grid’s significant inflection point.

Responding to the NYISO numbers, the New York Building Congress worried that, for every two megawatts of power retired, “only one megawatt is added.” The group called for urgent action to address the crisis, including expediting projects like the Northeast Supply Enhancement project, expanding transmission, and adding storage to supply the power grid with “firm, dispatchable power.”