Private developer Empire State Connector Corp. has initiated an open solicitation process for interested parties to reserve space on its 265-mile, 1,000-MW Empire State Connector high-voltage, direct-current transmission line from upstate New York to New York City.
The project is designed to collect electricity produced from various generating sources in upstate New York. The line itself will run from the Marcy converter station near Utica, N.Y., and run mostly underground and underwater through the Erie Canal and Hudson River to the Gowanus converter station in New York City, a route that the developer said would allow it to "slice through" congestion and reduce emissions. The project will also support New York's clean energy standard, Empire State Connector said.
London Economics International will serve as the manager for the solicitation process. Empire State Connector, a joint venture of Toronto-based transmission developer oneGRID Corp. and Toronto-based investment firm Forum Equity Partners, will hold an information session on Dec. 5 for interested parties. Nonbinding expressions of interest will be accepted until Dec. 22.
The $1.5 billion, 320-kV project has already secured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval and has completed a New York ISO feasibility report. Its NYISO interconnection queue position is #506. Empire State Connector plans to file its Article VII application with the New York Public Service Commission by the end of the year.
The transmission line is expected to go online in 2022, according to a Nov. 27 press release.
