Empire State Connector Corp. announced the start of an Open Solicitation process for interested parties to reserve space on its 265-mile, 1,000-MW fully buried Empire State Connector (ESC) high-voltage, direct-current (HVDC) electric transmission line.
oneGRID is developing the Empire State Connector, a 1,000-MW 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 Open Solicitation represents the next step in the development of the ESC, following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order authorizing Empire State Connector Corp. to sell transmission rights and services on its proposed merchant transmission project at negotiated rates.
London Economics International will serve as the independent solicitation manager for the Open Solicitation, debuting a novel approach designed to bring together upstate power suppliers and downstate load serving entities through the ESC.
“This project perfectly complements the state’s and the City’s energy, economic and environmental policy goals,” said ESC CEO, John Douglas. “It creates significant upstate economic growth, spurs the development and use of clean, renewable energy, helps better tie together New York’s massive electric grid with highly-controllable transmission technology and delivers low carbon energy into New York City.
The ESC will support New York State’s Clean Energy Standard (CES), which lays out aggressive low-carbon power goals for the state’s power suppliers. Bypassing the major congested transmission interfaces and delivering directly into the heart of New York City, ESC provides a key piece in the State’s energy and environmental solution.
ESC’s unique underwater route through the Erie Canal and Hudson River will also have no visual impact and low environmental impact. It is estimated the project will create more than 2,600 jobs during the three-to-four-year construction period. As a participant-funded transmission project, the ESC will be constructed and paid for by the shippers who will contract for capacity.
Non-binding Expressions of Interest will be accepted until December 22, 2017. A WebEXTM information session will be held for those interested in participating on December 5, 2017.
Specific information about the process and expressions of interest can be accessed here.
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