Reliable Clean City Projects: Frequently Asked Questions

We’re investing approximately $800 million to upgrade electric substations and install new transmission lines that will bring renewable and reliable power to customers in New York City.

These transmission lines will be capable of delivering hundreds of megawatts of clean energy generated by renewable sources, like hydroelectric dams, solar energy plants, and wind farms onshore and offshore.

These projects represent our commitment to aggressively transition away from fossil fuels and build a resilient energy grid that delivers 100% clean, reliable energy by 2040.

We started in Queens because we’re preparing for the retirement of gas turbine generators located in Astoria. In their place, we’ve installed an underground transmission feeder connecting our Rainey and Corona substations.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation enacted air emissions regulations which have resulted in the projected unavailability of plants reliant on fossil fuels (i.e., NRG Gas Turbine Generators in Astoria) in Con Edison’s service territory. An unintended consequence of this change could be to create transmission reliability deficiencies in the Queens transmission load area.

The new 300 MW transmission tie between our substations in Corona and Long Island City will address those reliability needs by connecting Queens to clean reliable energy sources located outside of New York City. Plus, by eliminating equipment reliant on fossil fuels, we’ll reduce pollution and improve the air quality.

And in Brooklyn and on Staten Island, we’re making major capital improvements to our substations and energizing new, subsurface transmission feeders to meet the future forecasted energy needs of customers along these transmission lines.

Renewable energy sources from Upstate New York and Canada include, but are not limited to, wind farms onshore and offshore, solar power plants, hydroelectric dams, and fuel cells, which do not utilize fossil fuel resources in the process of generating electricity.

Reliable Clean City is part of our commitment to New York’s Clean Energy Standard, designed to fight climate change, reduce harmful air pollution, and ensure a diverse and reliable low carbon energy supply. The expansion of the Clean Energy Standard, so that 70% of New York's electricity comes from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind by 2030, was codified under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

These projects represent Con Edison’s dedication to transitioning away from fossil fuels and building a resilient energy grid that delivers 100% clean energy by 2040, as outlined in Our Clean Energy Commitment.

No. You’ll still have the same, reliable power throughout the project’s duration.

Queens construction began January 2022 and concluded in May 2023. Staten Island and Brooklyn construction starts in June 2023 and lasts until summer 2025.

If you live near a project site, you may experience:

• Construction noise from jackhammering, digging, installing manholes, and repaving the streets during the day
• Temporary relocation of bike and bus lanes, as well as traffic detours
• Temporary loss of parking spots

Most construction will take place in the day with the exception of New York City, New York State, or federal-required stipulations.

We’ll let you know before construction starts on your street so you can make travel and parking arrangements ahead of time. Look for an email or flyer in your mailbox with details about how construction may affect you or your business.

Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group was awarded the contract to install these transmission lines. They have subcontracted Hallen to perform the excavation in the streets and Welsbach to install the electric transmission cable (tie).

Work inside both substations will be performed by a mix of Con Edison employees and contractors; all of the below-grade work will be performed by contractors, and above-grade electric and civil work will be split equally by Con Edison and contractors.

We aspire to have the cleanest, most reliable energy grid in the country. We do that by investing in new infrastructure that will support the transition away from fossil fuels and the integration of new, renewable electricity generators.

About 500 MW of fossil-fueled generation plants are retiring in the spring of 2023, facilitated by the construction of the Reliable Clean City Projects. But, right now, there are not enough clean-energy producers to meet peak electricity needs and providing customers the reliable service they expect and deserve remains our top priority. That’s not only state policy—it’s the responsible thing to do.

Policymakers can help us accelerate the transition to clean energy by approving energy-company-owned clean generation resources and more battery-storage facilities.