The Honorable Michelle L. Phillips
Secretary to the Commission
New York State Public Service Commission
Three Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1350

Re: Case Number: 24-T-0446

Dear Secretary Phillips,

Please accept this letter of support for Propel NY Energy’s Joint Proposal on behalf of Regional Plan Association. RPA is an independent non-profit civic organization that develops and promotes ideas to improve the economic health, environmental resiliency, equity, and quality of life of the New York Metropolitan area.

The Propel NY Energy project is needed to strengthen the backbone of our electrical grid, bolstering grid reliability, resiliency, and energy delivery to New Yorkers for years to come. This Project is vital to our state’s economy and the environment.

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), the state grid operator, released its annual report on June 9th, warning that aging infrastructure, constrained transmission, and the need for new capacity have pushed reliability margins to some of the lowest levels in recent history. In addition to identifying several challenges, the NYISO highlighted ​“key solutions” for the electric system, specifically Propel NY Energy.

The report states: ​“By strengthening the transmission system, projects like Propel NY Energy can reduce reliance on emergency operations, improve access to available generation during extreme conditions, and support a more reliable and efficient grid across seasons.” Propel NY Energy is particularly critical as it will be able to transmit abundant clean energy from Upstate New York into capacity constrained Long Island.

From the outset, the Propel NY Energy team has demonstrated a strong commitment to stakeholder engagement, ensuring that local voices, priorities, and values are reflected in the project’s development. The Joint Proposal put forward by the project team is the result of thoughtful collaboration and meaningful progress to ensure the project will be built efficiently, effectively, and with the necessary community and environmental safeguards in place. RPA has supported the Propel NY Energy project since 2024 and will continue to support this project throughout its development, due to the critical need the project fills.

We encourage the Commission to adopt the Joint Proposal without hesitation. It is critical that the Project secures permits and approvals in a timely manner to ensure construction can begin in 2026.

RPA is committed to working with regulators, community members, and the Propel NY Energy team for the Project’s success. Thank you for your efforts and consideration.

Sincerely,
Robert Freudenberg
Vice President, Energy & Environment
Regional Plan Association