New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI) has submitted a supplemental filing to the New York Public Service Commission that details research findings on the economic and environmental impacts of NYRI's proposed transmission line, as well as alternative routing options.
The new filing supplements NYRI's original Article VII application submitted in May 2006. The filing indicates that the transmission line would result in lower wholesale electricity pricing across the state.
The supplemental filing is part of NYRI's bid to secure approval from the state of New York to build, at no cost to taxpayers, a 190-mile transmission line to bring electrical energy from upstate to meet the growing demand in the southeastern part of the state. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), the U.S. Department of Energy and the private sector have documented the need for upgrading transmission in this corridor to relieve system congestion and increase reliability.
The report states that NYRI ‘is likely to reduce electricity costs for the state of New York in a number of significant ways: it will reduce prices and the cost of energy to New York consumers, it will reduce the production cost of electricity thereby improving economic efficiency and improving social welfare, and it will reduce the cost of congestion.’
Independent studies included in the supplemental filing relating to the environment also indicate that the NYRI transmission line would stimulate investment in renewable energy sources.
Concurrent with the submission of its supplemental filing, NYRI relaunched its Web site – nyri.us – with multimedia capabilities and comprehensive information about the project. A digital copy of NYRI's supplemental filing will be available on the Web site in the coming weeks.
