Tom Grech.
Photo courtesy of the Queens Chamber of Commerce
While many New Yorkers were trying to stay cool during the recent heatwave ahead of the July 4 holiday, nearly 10,000 Queens residents lost power. At the same time, millions were asked to reduce their electricity use by raising their thermostats, turning off lights and avoiding energy-intensive appliances. It was another reminder that as temperatures rise and demand for electricity grows, our energy infrastructure must keep pace.
This heatwave, which wasn’t the first of the year and certainly won’t be the last, exposed the challenges facing our current power grid. The reality is that New York’s energy infrastructure is being asked to do more than ever before. As our population grows, businesses expand and electricity powers more of our daily lives, we need a grid that is reliable, resilient and built for the future.
These concerns aren’t hypothetical. New York’s grid operator has warned that New York City faces some of its lowest reliability margins in years, underscoring the need to strengthen our energy infrastructure before small problems become much larger ones.
For Queens businesses, reliable electricity isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. Restaurants can’t keep food cold, retailers can’t process payments, manufacturers can’t keep production moving and offices can’t welcome employees. Every outage means lost revenue, disrupted operations and uncertainty for employers and workers alike.
A reliable supply of electricity is critical to every business – whether it’s a large manufacturing facility or a small corner deli. Yet what has become abundantly clear is that the power grid serving Queens is in need of significant upgrades.
Projects like Propel NY are designed to address these challenges by expanding the capacity and reliability of our transmission system. This project will build 90 miles of new underground and submarine transmission lines – including 9 miles in Queens – to improve the reliability, resiliency and capacity of our grid.
A stronger transmission network will help ensure Queens has the reliable energy needed to support residents, attract investment and keep our economy growing.
No one welcomes road construction, and we recognize that these projects can be disruptive. But Queens has always understood that investing in infrastructure requires some short-term inconvenience to achieve long-term benefits. The alternative—an aging grid that becomes less reliable every year—is far more costly for businesses and residents alike.
Just as importantly, the project team has committed to working directly with local businesses throughout construction. Business owners should take advantage of opportunities to provide feedback so their operational needs can be considered as work moves forward.
Queens is one of the most dynamic and diverse economies anywhere in the country. From our small businesses and manufacturers to our airports, hospitals, sports and entertainment venues, every part of that economy depends on reliable energy. Investing in modern infrastructure today will help ensure Queens remains competitive, continues creating jobs and is prepared for the demands of tomorrow.
Tom Grech is the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.