Queens is one step closer to breaking ground on a five-year energy infrastructure project that will upgrade underground transmission lines and relieve strain on the downstate New York power grid, after Propel NY Energy announced its construction route has been finalized.
The project, which is expected to lower energy costs for residents and businesses, includes installation of new underground transmission lines that will span 90 miles and transmit energy from all generation sources in both directions from Westchester County, through the Bronx and Queens and to Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.
Propel NY Energy is a $3.26 billion electric transmission partnership between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York Transco, along with collaboration from WSP, an engineering and professional services consulting firm.
The Queens route — which was chosen in consideration of laws and regulations, community priorities, socioeconomic impacts, existing underground infrastructure and environmental features — was confirmed with no changes to the preferred route as reported by QNS in May.
Starting from the Long Island side, the route will run west along Northern Boulevard through Douglaston and Bayside, take a turn north at 207th Street, turn east under 26th Avenue and turn north again under Bell Boulevard near the Bay Terrace Shopping Center.
It will briefly run under Totten Road, take a turn west under the Cross Island Parkway through Whitestone and turn north under the Whitestone Expressway before exiting Queens under the East River and into the Bronx.
The confirmed route of the Queens portion of the Propel NY Energy project. Photo courtesy of Propel NY Energy
Pending regulatory approvals, project officials said construction is expected to begin later this year on Long Island, although a timeline for construction in Queens has not yet been confirmed. Project officials did estimate, however, that construction in Queens could begin in mid-2027, with additional details to be provided in the future.
Now that the route is confirmed, project officials said the Propel NY Energy team will be launching a voluntary survey next week for businesses located along or near the finalized underground transmission route, including those in Queens.
According to officials, the survey is designed to gather information and feedback about local business operations that can aid in construction planning and sequencing, as well as maximize efficiencies. They said businesses along the route in Queens can expect to receive a post card in the mail soon with details on the survey and how to participate.
“As the project continues to plan for construction, engaging with communities along the route remains a top priority,” said Marykate Guilfoyle, manager of media, communications and events at NY Transco. “The forthcoming business survey is another important opportunity for residents and local businesses to share their perspectives and help ensure community priorities are reflected throughout the project.”
As the sweltering heat continues to strain the power grid in New York City, even leading to a recent incident in which Con Edison shut off power to parts of Queens during an extreme heat wave during the July 4 holiday weekend, project officials said upgrades to the infrastructure would reduce bottlenecking and increase bandwidth to bolster reliability and resiliency — especially during times of high demand.
“This month’s extreme heat underscored the growing demands on our electric grid, with power outages affecting Queens residents and grid operators relying on emergency measures to maintain reliability,” said Quentin McMahon, senior director of project development at NYPA. “Once in service, Propel will strengthen grid resiliency, helping ensure reliable power during periods of peak demand and extreme weather and lower our congestion costs.”
Last month, the state grid operator — the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) — released a report highlighting growing electric grid challenges, particularly in downstate New York. Their Power Trends report highlighted the massive issues downstate New Yorkers will face without development of additional generation and transmission resources.
The report, however, identified Propel NY Energy as part of the solution, stating that “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.”
In addition to confirming construction routes, Propel NY Energy hit a state permitting milestone and submitted a joint proposal following a year of settlement discussions as part of the Article VII permitting process.
It has also announced three locally affiliated contractors — Hallen Integrated Construction Services, Haugland Group and BOND Civil and Utility Construction, Inc. — that will support critical pre-construction activities.
Last, Propel NY Energy submitted Environmental Management and Construction Plans (EM&CPs), detailing how it will construct the first two phases of the project while minimizing environmental and community impacts. EM&CPs define methods and schedules, environmental protections, monitoring requirements, traffic management, emergency response coordination and communication protocols.
According to the plans, Phase 1 work will begin at Long Island substations, after which Phase 2 will begin horizontal directional drilling to support future submarine cable installation in Westchester and Nassau counties.
For more information and updates about the project, visit PropelNYEnergy.com, or download the Propel NY Energy app from the Google and Apple stores.