NYISO BLOG

The “Tale of Two Grids” is an old story when it comes to the New York electric system.

New York State’s nation-leading grid decarbonization requirements have set the stage for 70% renewable energy by 2030 and a zero-emissions electric grid by 2040.

State and local requirements in New York have created what are arguably the most aggressive climate change requirements in the nation. The question of how to maintain electric system reliability on the road to meeting the state’s decarbonization mandates has become a central focus among policymakers and industry stakeholders.

It’s going to take time and precision to build the grid of the future. Managing reliability carefully and investing in the right technologies as we transition to a grid increasingly based on clean energy will be key to success.

New York's climate policies are driving profound changes on the electric system.

This two-page datasheet provides key messages and information from Power Trends 2022.

The New York energy grid is transforming almost before our eyes.

In August of 2003, a combination of transmission line outages and communications failures in the Midwest led to one of the largest blackouts in U.S. history, plunging much of the eastern seaboard into darkness.

It's easy to take electricity and the benefits of reliable power for granted. For the organizations responsible for running the electric grid, keeping power flowing is a constant, careful balance of load and supply. It requires work with state, regional, and federal entities to make sure proper rules are in place to maintain reliability when consumer demand is at its highest. It’s a complicated job that requires dedication, expertise, and planning.

Our stakeholders recently approved changes to market rules which, if accepted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will help us meet New York’s zero-emissions mandates by supporting new investments in energy resources.

Chuck Alonge plays an essential role in planning the grid. He and his fellow load forecasters support the reliability of the grid by continuously estimating how much power the grid will need to supply.

What is the “Grid of the Future?” And how are we at the New York ISO supporting New York’s transition to a zero-emissions grid? In the first episode of our new documentary series, we discuss the path to a clean energy future, with interviews from former FERC Chairman Norman Bay and New York ISO leaders.

The New York ISO (Independent System Operator) is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation responsible for operating the state’s bulk electricity grid. We are not a regulator, nor an entity of New York State. We operate the grid under the strictest reliability rules in the nation and under the oversight of state and federal regulators to keep the lights on for all New Yorkers.

The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, recently toured the New York ISO during a visit of upstate New York that focused on the growing clean energy ecosystem.

As the energy grid is changing, so too is how we talk about it.

The New York State Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) sets the stage for aggressive state action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote expansion of renewable, distributed energy, and energy storage resources.

We’ve just released a new report, the Comprehensive Reliability Plan, which looks at the New York energy grid over the next 10 years and determines if there are any factors that could impact our ability to keep the lights on for all.

Running the energy grid in New York takes skilled engineers, grid operators, and economists. But the largest part of our workforce is actually the team of software developers, database administrators, networking experts, and other professionals that make up our IT department.

As clean energy resources continue to grow in New York state, expanding our transmission network is vital to making sure that new renewable energy (mostly located upstate) can get to where we need it most (mostly downstate).

The NYISO is responsible for planning the power system to prepare for future reliability risks.