NYISO BLOG

In a time when reducing the grid’s carbon emissions is a priority, building and upgrading gas plants may seem counterintuitive. But in fact, it is a strategy that can support the ongoing build-out of renewables, including solar, wind, and battery storage.

The electric grid is undergoing a transformation unlike anything seen in its history. New York’s ambitious climate goals, rapid electrification, new renewables, and the rise of large-scale energy users are reshaping demand patterns and resource availability.

New data shows that New York’s grid operators are leaning more heavily than ever on emergency tools—known as Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) to keep the lights on.

The following op-ed was originally published in the New York Daily News on Dec. 15, 2025.

As New Yorkers brace for another winter, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has released its 2025 Winter Reliability Assessment – a critical snapshot of how the state’s electric grid is expected to perform during the coldest months of the year. This document is a roadmap for reliability and resilience in an era of rapid energy transition.

As the days grow shorter and winter draws near, it’s a good time to examine the critical role of capacity factors in assessing generator output.

At its October meeting, NYISO’s Environmental Advisory Council explored growing challenges in grid planning amid shifting federal headwinds, aging infrastructure and soaring electricity demand.

From aging infrastructure and extreme weather to electrification and the explosive growth of AI-driven energy demand, multiple forces are converging to push electricity rates higher.

After decades of rising retail electricity prices, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) was established in 1999 to manage the state’s electric grid, improve reliability, and establish efficient, wholesale electricity markets.

Large energy-intensive economic development projects such as data centers, chip fabrication facilities, and traditional manufacturing are driving up demand for electricity in New York. The map above shows the large load projects currently seeking to connect to New York’s grid.

3,493 MW are under construction

During periods of extreme weather – like the heatwave in late June – real-time energy prices can rise and fall dramatically. But these prices, shown on the NYISO Markets Real-Time Data Dashboard, don’t necessarily correlate with the number reflected on consumers’ bills.

As the child of a diplomat, Udayan Nair traveled with his family across continents, experiencing different cultures and witnessing firsthand the challenges of a changing world.

In Episode 40 of the Power Trends podcast, NYISO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Emilie Nelson offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the grid was managed during June’s heatwave, which brought record-setting temperatures across the Northeast. Nelson walks through the critical decisions and emergency measures that helped maintain adequate supply margins across New York.

In June, soaring temperatures tested New York’s grid, with demand reaching 31,857 megawatts (MW), the highest peak recorded on New York’s grid since 2016.

The NYISO Environmental Advisory Council held its spring meeting in June to examine challenges and opportunities with the transition of the electric system to more renewable generation as demand for energy increases.

A change as monumental as decarbonizing our electric system can be challenging and unpredictable.

Roughly 25% of the state’s total generating capacity is fossil-fuel-based generation that has been in operation for more than 50 years. As these generators age, they are experiencing more frequent and longer outages.

The electric system is undergoing rapid and instrumental change on a scale not experienced since 1892 when Thomas Edison first electrified the Pearl Street station in lower Manhattan. In the NYISO’s latest podcast, President & CEO Rich Dewey and Executive Vice President & COO Emilie Nelson discuss how these changes are impacting grid reliability, supply resources and planning the electric system for the future. Diving into the NYISO’s recently released Power Trends 2025 report with Kevin Lanahan, podcast host and Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications, they highlight how every plausible option and opportunity to bolster reliability and resource needs should be on the table.  

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has implemented a new cluster study process to improve the efficiency and transparency of its interconnection process. Approximately 240 generation projects are advancing through the first phase of the interconnection process – a crucial step and significant milestone toward integrating new generation facilities onto the grid.