The State of New York’s Electric Grid

Keeping the Lights On: Why New York Needs Clean Energy Now

This week, New York’s Independent System Operator (NYISO) released its latest reliability report — and the findings are a wake-up call. The report warns that the state’s electric grid faces growing risks of power shortages over the next five years if planned clean energy and transmission projects don’t move forward.

The Warning Signs

According to NYISO:

• New York City could experience energy shortfalls as soon as the summer of 2026.

• By 2030, those risks could climb to over 10,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of unmet demand — enough to cause widespread blackouts affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.

• These challenges stem from a combination of aging infrastructure, retiring fossil fuel plants, and slow progress in bringing new clean energy resources online.

Without decisive action to strengthen transmission lines and connect renewable energy sources, New York’s grid will remain vulnerable, especially during periods of extreme heat or cold when demand surges.

What the “Power Trends” Say

NYISO’s 2025 Power Trends Report offers a deeper look at the structural challenges shaping New York’s energy future:

• Electricity demand is rising fast — expected to grow by nearly 70% by 2030 due to population growth, electrification of vehicles and buildings, and new commercial projects.

• In 2022, there were only six large-scale commercial projects (like data centers and manufacturers) preparing to connect to the grid. As of April 2025, there are 20.

• Reliability margins are shrinking, meaning there’s less backup power available to handle emergencies or spikes in demand.

• Despite historic investments, aging transmission infrastructure is struggling to keep up. NYISO notes that “more is necessary to achieve public policy mandates and avoid future congestion.”

Aging Infrastructure, Rising Demand

New York State’s electric grid is at a critical juncture. Every sector — homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses — relies on a stable and resilient power supply.

To keep pace with demand and ensure reliable energy for all New Yorkers, we need significant investments in both power generation and transmission. That means building infrastructure that can carry clean energy from where it’s made to where it’s needed most.

Clean Energy Is Key

Clean energy isn’t just about cutting emissions — it’s about keeping the lights on. Offshore wind, new transmission projects, and distributed renewable resources are essential to grid stability and community safety.

Offshore wind, in particular, offers a major opportunity for New York and Long Island. Projects currently in development could provide thousands of megawatts of clean, reliable power, but progress is at risk due to political and financial pushback.

Without these projects, New York will struggle to meet its climate goals — and its reliability targets.

About Propel NY Energy

Propel NY Energy is one of the key solutions leading New York’s grid modernization. The project will:

• Add 90 miles of new underground transmission lines across Long Island, Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester

• Strengthen the backbone of the power grid, improving reliability and resiliency

• Create new pathways for clean energy to reach homes and businesses

• Support local jobs and economic development

Read more reports here: 

• Short-Term Assessment of Reliability: 2025 Quarter 3 - NYISO
• One pager of Report
• Utility Dive: New York City could face power reliability issues beginning next year: ISO
• Propel Factsheet about the state of the grid