By Alexa Moszer
This summer’s heat wave underscored a growing reality for New York: the state’s electric grid must adapt to meet the demands of a warming climate. During July’s hottest days, Con Edison urged New Yorkers to delay running major appliances, reduce air-conditioning use, and avoid charging electric vehicles during peak hours. The request reflected increasing pressure on New York City’s electric system. On July 3, the utility temporarily shut off power to nearly 10,000 customers in southwest Queens so crews could repair heat-damaged equipment before a larger outage occurred. Elsewhere in the city, Con Edison reduced voltage by around 8% and again asked customers to conserve electricity while repairs continued.
Heat waves like this one are only going to intensify and become more frequent. Voluntary conservation and the occasional brownout won’t be enough to keep a grid, built decades ago for a cooler climate, supporting an electric system in the summers ahead.
The Threat:
Heat kills more Americans than any other weather hazard and is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illnesses. For years, climate scientists have warned that New York’s heat waves will keep getting longer and more frequent, and every summer has reinforced that prediction. As temperatures rise, air conditioning runs longer, placing increasing strain on electric grids. When the grid is pushed beyond its limits, power outages become more likely, costing Americans an estimated $44 billion each year, according to the DOE.
As New York works to electrify transportation, buildings, and commercial heating systems to reduce carbon emissions, electricity demand will continue to grow. Without corresponding investments in transmission, renewable generation, battery storage, and grid modernization, the state’s power system will face increasing strain during periods of peak demand.
This leaves policymakers with the need to balance two urgent priorities: cutting greenhouse gas emissions and building the infrastructure needed to power a hotter, more electrified New York.
A Temporary Fix:
When utilities can’t keep up with demand, they may resort to brownouts, meaning deliberately lowering voltage to avoid a full-blown blackout. Additionally, asking residents to reduce their electricity use during periods of peak demand can help relieve short-term load on the grid, as Con Edison did in July; however, it is not a long-term solution. Brownouts can damage sensitive electronics, disrupt businesses, and put vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and those who rely on electrically powered medical equipment, at serious risk.
The Path Forward:
These record-breaking heat waves highlight the importance and demand for expanding New York’s clean energy infrastructure. The Champlain Hudson Power Express, one of the largest clean energy transmission investments in New York’s history, is expected to deliver up to 1,250 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric power from Québec directly into New York City once it is fully operational.
Other projects, such as Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, are forecast to add nearly 1,800 megawatts of offshore wind capacity when completed. Battery storage — which holds surplus power when it is abundant and releases it when needed — has become increasingly important for grid reliability. In addition, transmission upgrades like Smart Path, which was recently completed, and Propel NY Energy, which is under construction, will improve the efficient movement of electricity across the state.
Solar energy development has been a major bright spot, with Governor Hochul announcing in early July that New York reached eight gigawatts of distributed solar, putting the state ahead of schedule for reaching 10 GW by 2030.
Last month’s voltage reductions and conservation requests helped prevent a larger crisis, but as hotter summers become the new reality for New York, these emergency measures will become increasingly difficult to rely on. Whether the state’s electric system can withstand the decades ahead will depend on the investments and infrastructure projects prioritized today.
“The electric grid is the backbone of New York’s clean energy future,”said NYLCV President Julie Tighe. “As climate change drives more extreme heat and electricity demand continues to grow, investing in transmission, renewable energy, battery storage, and grid modernization is essential to keeping New Yorkers safe while reducing the emissions and stabilizing utility bills.”
Keeping the lights on during extreme heat will require building a system designed for New York’s new climate. The choices we make now about energy infrastructure will determine whether future heat waves remain manageable or become widespread public safety emergencies.
Alexa Moszer is an intern at the New York League of Conservation Voters. She is a senior at The Dalton School and has assisted environmental research projects for both the Government of Maryland and The Wetlands Institute. To learn more about Alexa, visit her LinkedIn page located here.