[Dec. 9, 2022] Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on Smart Path Connect, a critically important transmission project led by the New York Power Authority and National Grid NY to rebuild and strengthen approximately one hundred miles of transmission in the North Country and the Mohawk Valley.
The transmission line upgrades are necessary to meet the clean energy requirements of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Project representatives, including New York Power Authority Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll, and National Grid New York Chief Operating Officer for Electric Brian Gemmell, joined President and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator Rich Dewey to mark the project’s construction kick-off today and briefed the local community on the project along with state and local leaders at the New York Power Authority’s Hawkins Point Visitors Center in Massena, New York.
“The expansion and modernization of New York’s transmission system is critical to increasing resiliency and advancing New York’s ambitious clean energy goals,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is leading the way in making bold energy infrastructure investments that will create jobs, boost local economies and advance New York’s nation-leading efforts to build a carbon-free energy system by 2040.” The Smart Path Connect project will help unbottle existing renewable resources in the region and yield significant production cost savings, emissions reductions, and decreases in transmission congestion.