About the ESC
oneGRID is developing the Empire State Connector, an up to 1,250 megawatt HVDC electric transmission line connecting Upstate New York to New York City. Efficient and reliable Upstate New York energy will be collected at a converter station built near Utica.
The energy will then be transported via transmission lines that use safe and proven technology. These lines will be located in existing right-of-ways to minimize the Project’s environmental impact and minimize visual impact. The southern terminus will be located in New York City. The project will facilitate upstate job creation through renewable energy and energy system development.
Commencement of construction is expected in 2023 with in-service date anticipated by 2025. The Project is being built by union labor and it is anticipated it will create more than 2,600 jobs during the three-to-four-year construction period.
The ESC has seen significant development in recent months, with more milestones to be reached by end of the year. Environmental and technical prefeasibility studies for the Project have been received with no fatal flaws identified. Significant design engineering work, including a complete route assessment, has also been completed with Siemens.
On June 24, 2016, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) approved the request for negotiated rate authority for the ESC project. The approval allows the Company to conduct an open solicitation and capacity allocation process for all parties interested to subscribe for capacity.
Looking ahead, the ESC has a clear pathway to approval of the required State and Federal permits, construction, and start of commercial operations. ESC intends to file its Article VII application with the Public Service Commission by 2021. A System Reliability Impact Study with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) was completed in Q2 2019, paving the way for the participation in the Class Year process. ESC anticipates receiving major state and federal permits by Q4 2022, commencement of construction in 2023 and commercial operation in 2025.