New York Power Authority

New York Power Authority
Company type	State-owned public benefit corporation
Industry	Electric utility
Predecessor	Power Authority of the State of New York (PASNY)
Founded	April 27, 1931; 95 years ago in New York, United States
Headquarters	White Plains, United States
Area served	New York State, neighboring states (power sales)
Key people	Justin Driscoll (President and CEO)
Products	Electricity generation and transmission
Owner	State of New York
Number of employees	2,327 (2017)
Website	www.nypa.gov

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is a state-owned public benefit corporation and stands as the largest public power utility operated by any state in the United States. It provides some of the nation's most affordable electricity, managing 16 power generation sites alongside more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission infrastructure. The organization's headquarters are located in White Plains, New York.

NYPA functions independently of state tax funding or state-incurred debt, primarily financing its initiatives through bond issuances that are repaid using revenue generated from its operations.

Its clientele, as defined by both state and federal legislation, encompasses a broad spectrum including small and large enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, public power entities, and government bodies. Additionally, NYPA supplies electricity to private utilities for resale on a non-profit basis and fulfills federal obligations by selling power to neighboring states. Approximately 70% of the electricity it produces is derived from clean, renewable hydropower sources.

Since April 2016, NYPA has held full financial responsibility for the New York State Canal Corporation, completing its acquisition on January 1, 2017.

Justin Driscoll assumed the roles of president and CEO in July 2023 after previously serving in an acting capacity.

Organization

Between 2011 and 2021, Gil C. Quiniones was at the helm as president and CEO before stepping down to lead the Illinois-based Commonwealth Edison company. The executive leadership team at NYPA reports directly to a board composed of seven members. In 2017, the authority reported operating expenses totaling $2.335 billion, carried an outstanding debt of $1.305 billion, and employed a workforce of 2,327 individuals.

In 2022, Justin Driscoll was named acting president and CEO and was subsequently confirmed in this position without undergoing a Senate confirmation hearing.

In 2024, Sandra Bleckman joined NYPA as the director for workforce development projects.

Operations

NYPA distributes electric power generated from its facilities to a diverse set of customers including businesses across all scales, not-for-profit entities, public power systems, government agencies, private utilities (which resell electricity without profit), as well as neighboring states in accordance with federal mandates. Furthermore, it participates in New York State’s wholesale electricity market overseen by the NYISO. A significant direct customer is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for which NYPA also provides electrical engineering consulting services related to new power infrastructure initiatives.

Power Generation

NYPA owns and manages a variety of generation assets including hydroelectric plants, pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities, open and combined cycle gas turbine stations, and battery energy storage systems. While it previously operated two nuclear plants, current developments include two solar photovoltaic (PV) installations alongside plans for a new nuclear power facility.

Name	Type	Capacity (MWe)	Location	Year commissioned
Niagara Power Project – Lewiston Pumped Storage	Pumped Storage Hydro	240	Lewiston	1961
Niagara Power Project – Moses Niagara Power Dam	Hydro	2860	Lewiston	1961
St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project	Hydro	1088	Massena	1958
Blenhein-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project	Pumped Storage Hydro	1160	Gilboa	1973
Ashokan Project	Hydro	4.6	Shokan	1982
Crescent Plant	Hydro	11.6	Crescent	1991
Gregory B. Jarvis Plant	Hydro	9	Hinckley	1994
Vischer Ferry Plant	Hydro	11.6	Vischer Ferry	1991
Grahamsville	Hydro	18	Grahamsville	1956
Neversink	Hydro	25	Grahamsville	1953
North Country ESR	Battery Storage	20	Chateaugay	2023
Gowanus 5&6	Gas Turbine	94	Brooklyn	2001
Kent	Gas Turbine	47	Brooklyn	2001
Pouch	Gas Turbine	47	Staten Island	2001
Hellgate	Gas Turbine	94	The Bronx	2001
Harlem River	Gas Turbine	94	The Bronx	2001
Vernon Boulevard	Gas Turbine	94	Queens	2001
Brentwood	Gas Turbine	47	Brentwood, New York	2001
Astoria Combined Cycle	CCGT	576	Queens	2006
Astoria Energy IICite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content	CCGT	660	Queens	2011
Richard M. Flynn	CCGT	170	Holtsville, New York	1994
Greenport	Fuel Oil Internal Combustion	6.8	Greenport, Suffolk County, New York	1957
Somers SolarCite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content	Solar PV	20	Fort Edward, New York
North Albany LandfillCite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content	Solar PV	1.5	Albany, New York
New Nuclear Power PlantCite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; refs with no name must have content	Nuclear power plant	>1000

Electric transmission lines

The Frederick R. Clark Energy Center, located in Marcy, New York, serves as the central hub for NYPA’s statewide power transmission network. Among NYPA’s high-voltage infrastructure is a 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission line extending over 100 miles from the Canada–US border to the Clark Energy Center. Additionally, NYPA manages nearly 1,000 miles of 345-kV lines throughout New York State, which includes the Marcy South line and a 26.3-mile underground and underwater transmission corridor connecting Westchester County to Long Island.

New York State Canal Corporation

Since April 2016, NYPA has been financially responsible for the New York State Canal Corporation, officially assuming ownership on January 1, 2017.

History

The Power Authority of the State of New York (PASNY), later renamed NYPA, was created when then-Governor Roosevelt enacted the Power Authority Act on April 27, 1931. Leadership of the authority from 1931 to 1939 was under Leland Olds.

St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project In 1952, the International Joint Commission gave approval for a joint cross-border initiative. The following year, the Federal Power Commission granted NYPA a license to develop the U.S. segment of a hydroelectric dam situated at the Canada–US border. Construction of this hydroelectric facility and the St. Lawrence Seaway was authorized by legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. Power production commenced in July 1958; on June 27, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and Vice President Richard Nixon formally dedicated the project as a symbol of international partnership. In recognition of its significance, NYPA’s portion was renamed in honor of FDR in 1981.

Niagara Power Project Following a devastating rockslide in 1956 that severely damaged Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation's Schoellkopf plant and jeopardized local industrial employment, Congress enacted the Niagara Redevelopment Act in 1957. After receiving licensing approval, Robert Moses initiated construction of NYPA’s second hydroelectric power station in early 1958. Completed three years later, it stood as the largest facility of its type in the Western Hemisphere. When it began generating electricity in February 1961, President John F. Kennedy lauded it as “[an outstanding engineering achievement]” and an exemplar of North American operational excellence.

Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project In 1968, legislation signed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller permitted NYPA to expand its portfolio to include nuclear and pumped storage power projects. This led to the development of the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project, which started producing electricity in July 1973, as well as the commencement of operations at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Scriba, Oswego County, in February 1975.

Expanded Authority

The state budget for 2023-2024 granted NYPA new powers to develop, own, and operate renewable energy facilities aligned with New York's clean energy objectives. Among the initial projects under this mandate are a 20MW solar installation planned for Fort Edward and a 1.5MW solar plant currently being developed in Albany.

List of chairs of the New York Power Authority

Francis Patrick Walsh served from 1931 to 1939.
James Cummings Bonbright held the position between 1939 and 1946.
Maj.-Gen. Francis Bowditch Wilby was in office from 1946 until 1950.
John Edward Burton led from 1950 through 1954.
Robert Moses' tenure lasted from 1954 to 1963.
James A. FitzPatrick directed from 1963 to 1977.
Frederick R. Clark served between 1977 and 1979.
John Stuart Dyson was at the helm from 1979 to 1985.
Richard M. Flynn held office from 1985 until 1994.
Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr. served from 1995 through 2001.
Joseph J. Seymour’s terms included 2001–2002 and again 2005–2006.
Louis P. Ciminelli led from 2002 to 2006.
Frank S. McCullough Jr. was in charge between 2006 and 2008.
Michael J. Townsend served from 2008 until 2012.
John R. Koelmel held the role in 2012.
Gil C. Quiniones was director from 2012 to 2021.
Justin Driscoll has been serving since 2022.

External links

Power Authority of the State of New York as found in the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations