The New York State government has started construction of the $854m Marcy to New Scotland Transmission Upgrade Project in the US.
The works will increase the electricity transmission capacity of the line and supply more renewable energy to higher demand areas across the state.
The project will involve upgrading energy transmission along a 93-mile, 345kV line in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Region. It will make use of the existing electric transmission corridors and replace transmission towers to increase energy efficiency.
LS Power Grid New York and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will jointly manage the project. The project forms part of $2bn of investments in transmission to accelerate the integration of renewable energy resources.
The project will also involve construction of two new substations between NYPA’s central transmission hub in Marcy, Oneida County, and New Scotland in Albany County.
The project will help New York state to meet its targets under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This mandates for a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, achieving 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy-wide carbon neutrality.
Additionally, the Marcy to New Scotland Transmission Upgrade Project will create construction jobs.
New York Governor Andrew Mark Cuomo said: “A clean and reliable transmission infrastructure is critical to combating climate change and achieving New York’s nation-leading clean energy goals.
“The start of construction on this important project marks a major milestone in our efforts to construct a new energy superhighway to move energy across the state more efficiently, while also creating new jobs and opportunities for New Yorkers that will help to reinvigorate our local and state-wide economies.”
