The New York Power Authority on Dec. 9 published its Renewables Updated Strategic Plan, which details the Power Authority’s efforts to develop, own and operate renewable generation and energy storage projects to strengthen New York’s grid with a portfolio of diversified energy resources.
The plan, approved Dec. 9 by the NYPA Board of Trustees, includes 45 individual projects and 146 distributed energy storage projects representing a combined capacity of nearly 5.5 gigawatts (GW).
NYPA Chairman John Koelmel said, “As electricity demand continues to increase in New York State, efforts to deliver affordable, clean power are more critical now than ever before. The updated renewables strategic plan details the Power Authority’s comprehensive strategy to develop clean energy projects that will strengthen the resiliency of the grid and reduce our reliance on fossil fuel resources.”
The Power Authority’s renewable strategic plan is an iterative document that will be continually re-assessed and updated. Projects will be added to, updated, and sometimes removed from the plan as NYPA identifies and evaluates new opportunities for project development. NYPA will address developing all projects included in the plan, but ultimately only advance those that are deemed technically and financially viable.
“The NYPA Renewables Updated Strategic Plan includes a strong portfolio of refined project opportunities that builds on the energy capacity outlined in the inaugural plan, published less than a year ago,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll.
“Despite strong headwinds threatening the viability of renewables projects throughout the nation, NYPA continues to leverage its expertise and reputational strength to develop projects that will bolster the energy diversity of New York’s electric grid. With projects totaling roughly 350 megawatts already under exclusive agreements, this updated plan is only a snapshot of our ongoing efforts, and NYPA will continue to assess the state’s addressable renewables market to identify new projects that can be added into future plans," he said.
The updated plan includes 39 solar arrays, three wind projects and 149 energy storage projects located in every region of the state. 145 of the 149 energy storage projects are located in Westchester County and in New York City, and would support the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program, which provides renewable energy bill credits to eligible low-income New Yorkers in disadvantaged communities.
The NYPA Renewables Updated Strategic Plan reflects changes to the Power Authority’s renewable project opportunities caused by expected attrition as project due diligence advanced, as well as underlying market conditions, including the elimination of federal tax credits for wind and solar projects and recent key interconnection study results.
NYPA will work with its partners to expeditiously advance projects listed in the plan amid industry headwinds and increased competition for resources, including equipment and contractors.
In July, NYPA published a draft of the updated plan and opened an associated 45-day public comment period. During that period, the Power Authority held two virtual public hearings and received more than 6,000 comments.
Additionally, NYPA is preparing to re-open its rolling Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking additional private developers, including community-based developers and investors seeking to collaborate with the Power Authority on the development of renewable energy projects.
Any entities pre-qualified through that process will be added to a list of 95 developers and investors that were previously approved.
In April, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the first renewables project that will be developed under the REACH program, a 1.5-MW solar array co-developed between NYPA and the City of Albany—one of the Power Authority’s municipal customers.
NYPA Renewables
The Power Authority’s renewables program was established in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget. The budget legislation—signed into law by Hochul—authorized and directed NYPA to advance renewable energy projects, support clean energy workforce training, and establish the REACH program.
The Power Authority’s renewables efforts are further supported by $200 million in funding through the Sustainable Future Program, announced by Hochul as part of her 2025 State of the State and approved in the 2025-26 Enacted State Budget.
