New York Commission Paves Cost-Effective Path to Develop New Transmission Lines
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved a methodology for benefit-cost analysis proposals to be submitted by the major utilities to enable a cost- effective prioritization of local transmission and distribution investments needed to meet Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates.
"The process we are approving today is consistent with the least-cost approach to meeting CLCPA requirements," said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. "New York is making significant upgrades and additions to the state's existing transmission and distribution systems to integrate new large-scale renewable energy projects into the state's energy supply, and we must ensure that these investments are smart and cost-effective."
The landmark Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, companion legislation to the CLCPA, requires the Commission and the utilities, including the Long Island Power Authority, to develop plans that provide for the timely development of local transmission and distribution upgrades needed to meet CLCPA targets. The commission directed the major utilities to develop the benefit-cost analysis method (BCA) for use in the evaluation of potential local electric transmission and distribution system upgrades identified under the statute. The purpose of the approved BCA is to guide the utilities toward the most cost-effective expenditure of ratepayer dollars to meet CLCPA mandates. The BCA method approved by the Commission would rely upon capacity expansion modeling to focus on satisfying CLCPA requirements at the lowest cost. The projects under consideration include traditional line and substation types of projects, as well as rebuilding or reconductoring circuits, substation reconfigurations, expansions or rebuilds, construction of new substations, and installation of additional transformers.
The steps included in the approved BCA approach include:
- Capacity expansion modeling that considers the total cost of generating, connecting, and delivering energy produced from renewable generation after curtailments;
- Relying on inputs such as: (1) the capital cost and energy output of renewable generation sources in different locations across the State; (2) the capital cost of means of creating headroom for the delivery of renewable energy, including the Phase 2 local transmission projects, non-wires alternatives and bulk transmission system interconnections; and (3) constraints that need to be respected, for example feasibility and siting limitations for resource types in certain locations;
- Establishing a 70 percent renewable energy production resource requirement by 2030 consistent with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Department of Public Service staff estimates, and relying upon the capacity planning model to "build" a least cost portfolio of renewable resources and sources of headroom for the interconnection and delivery of such resources (the "capacity expansion"); and
- Combining sources of renewable generation and other projects and stacking combinations from least cost to highest cost needed to cost effectively achieve 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030.
