New York State Approves 100 MW Battery Storage Facility in NYC

The New York State Public Service Commission has approved the construction and operation of a 100 MW battery energy storage facility in Astoria, Queens, a significant step towards achieving Governor Cuomo's ambitious clean energy goals. The $132 million facility, developed and operated by East River ESS, LLC, will be built on a merchant basis and participate in the wholesale energy markets. The project is expected to be operational by December 31, 2022, and will create nearly 70 construction-related jobs during the nine-month construction period.

Key Takeaways:

• The 100 MW battery storage facility will be located in Astoria, Queens, and will be built by East River ESS, LLC, an affiliate of 174 Power Global.
• The facility will be developed and operated on a merchant basis and will participate in the wholesale energy markets.
• The project is expected to be operational by December 31, 2022, and will create nearly 70 construction-related jobs during the nine-month construction period.
• The facility will have the capacity to hold enough electricity to power more than 16,000 average-sized homes for several hours or enough to power the World Trade Center for about a day.
• The project has a seven-year contract under which Con Edison will have dispatch rights to bid the output from the battery system into the State's wholesale markets.
• East River ESS, LLC is responsible for obtaining the permits to build and operate the project by the end of 2022.
• The facility will produce no emissions and little noise, and will be connected to a nearby Con Edison transmission substation.
• The project is a crucial step towards achieving Governor Cuomo's ambitious clean energy goals, including a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050.

Statistics:

• $132 million: the total cost of the 100 MW battery storage facility
• 100 MW: the capacity of the battery storage facility
• 16,000: the number of average-sized homes that the facility can power for several hours
• 7 years: the length of the contract between East River ESS, LLC and Con Edison
• 70: the number of construction-related jobs created during the peak of the nine-month construction period
• 2022: the year by which the project is expected to be operational
• 2040: the year by which New York aims to have a zero-emission electricity sector
• 2050: the year by which New York aims to achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality

Sources:

• "For Immediate Release: 07/15/21" by John B. Howard, Chair, New York State Public Service Commission
• "PSC Authorizes Construction of 100 MW Battery Storage Facility in NYC" by New York State Department of Public Service
• "New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan" by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo