The New York Power Authority on July 29 published a draft of its Updated Strategic Plan, which details the Power Authority’s efforts to develop, own and operate renewable generation and energy storage projects to improve the reliability and resiliency of New York’s grid.
The draft plan includes 20 new renewable generation projects and 156 energy storage projects representing a combined capacity of more than 3.8 gigawatts (GW).
Including the first tranche of projects identified in the inaugural strategic plan -- approved by the NYPA Board of Trustees in January -- NYPA’s draft Updated Strategic Plan now highlights 64 potential clean energy projects representing nearly 7 GW of capacity—enough electricity to power nearly seven million homes.
“Despite federal uncertainties surrounding renewable energy, the Power Authority remains laser-focused on building a diverse portfolio of emission-free power generation that will support the increasing power demands on New York’s electric grid,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll.
“The draft update to our Renewables Strategic Plan includes more than 200 projects representing nearly 7 GW -- doubling the total energy capacity opportunities outlined in our inaugural plan published only six months ago," he said. "While we are proud of the work we have accomplished since embarking on this journey in 2023, there has never been a more critical time for NYPA to move expeditiously as we contend with expiring federal tax credits and associated increased competition for equipment and installers. NYPA is committed to building a diverse portfolio of clean energy projects.”
The new plan highlights 17 solar arrays, three wind projects and 156 energy storage projects located in every region of the state.
A public comment period associated with the updated plan is now underway and will end on September 12. As part of the public comment period, NYPA will host two virtual public hearings. Public comments on the draft Updated Strategic Plan can be submitted to the NYPA Strategic Plan comment portal.
The Power Authority is publishing the draft of the updated plan and initiating the 2025 conferral process simultaneously to allow conferees to consider the draft version of the plan while conferring with the Power Authority about its renewable energy development program. The 2023 and 2024 Conferral Reports are available at https://www.nypa.gov/conferral-process.
In the time since Nw York Gov. Kathy Hochul approved the Power Authority’s expanded authority in May 2023, NYPA has made major progress toward the development of new renewable energy projects.
The Power Authority formed new business structures, filled key personnel roles, made regulatory filings, secured tax rulings, held two conferral processes to engage with stakeholders throughout the state, and established a new renewable energy subsidiary -- the New York Renewable Energy Development Holdings Corporation.
In March 2025, Governor Hochul announced that the Power Authority acquired full ownership of Somers Solar, a 20 megawatt solar energy generation project in Washington County. It is the first project outlined in the Renewables Strategic Plan to be owned by the Power Authority.
In October 2024, the New York State Public Service Commission approved a request by the Power Authority to establish the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program to provide electric bill credits for low-income households in disadvantaged communities across the state.
The REACH program bill credits will be funded from a portion of revenues from new renewable energy generating projects developed or contracted by NYPA and designated for REACH once projects are operating and generating revenue.
In April 2025, Hochul announced that NYPA and the City of Albany partnered to co-develop a 1.5 MW solar project in the city, the first to be developed under the REACH program.
Additionally, a Request for Qualifications remains open seeking additional private developers, including community-based developers and investors seeking to collaborate with the Power Authority on the development of renewable energy generating projects.
Any entities that are pre-qualified through this 2025 RFQ reopening will be added to the entities that were previously pre-qualified in 2024. To date, 94 developers and investors have been pre-qualified. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply on NYPA’s procurement webpage. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The RFQ will remain open until September 30.
