Repowering can avert an energy reliability crisis

The last thing any New Yorker wants to think about on a sweltering summer afternoon is whether their electricity will stay on. We expect the air conditioner to hum, the refrigerator to run, and the lights to glow.

But this summer, that simple expectation rests on a razor's edge. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), the nonprofit running the state's electric grid, has sent the strongest message yet over the fragile state of our reserves: New York's power supply is running out of room for error. The grid's reliability margins have plummeted to the thinnest buffer in our state's modern history, according to the operator's latest reliability report.

Just a three-day heat wave of 95-degree weather will be perilous. That could leave the grid facing a 1,679-megawatt deficit, the energy equivalent of shutting off the lights for 1.3 million homes. At 98 degrees, that lack of electricity more than doubles.

Brownouts, and even blackouts, are no longer a far-off possibility. They are a looming reality that threatens our safety, our economy and our way of life.

We must embrace a common-sense, "all of the above" energy strategy, and one of the most realistic, achievable options is "repowering" — upgrading existing power plants on their current footprints instead of abandoning them. By upgrading conventional generation infrastructure with state-of-the-art technology, we can simultaneously secure the grid, lower costs for ratepayers, and slash emissions.

Whatever approach the state chooses, the urgency of our need is underscored by the shifting math of our energy landscape.

New York's electric grid, mostly powered by natural gas, is being pushed to its limits by a historic surge in demand, driven by an increase in large manufacturers bringing jobs statewide, the growth of AI, acceleration of state electrification mandates, and overall economic growth.

At the same time, our energy supply is shrinking. New York is decommissioning aging power plants faster than it can build new ones, creating a reliability gap. Despite significant state investment, the hard truth is that wind and solar renewables are not coming online fast enough to fill the void.

That's where repowering comes in.

At National Grid Ventures, we recognize that our Long Island generation assets are the backbone of the region's energy security. And as both the State Energy Plan and NYISO have made clear, repowering these sites is a uniquely powerful solution.

Beyond the economic and environmental gains, however, lies the most fundamental argument for repowering: the immediate and unavoidable need to prevent a full-scale reliability crisis.

We have already felt the tremors of a system under strain. Last summer NYISO was forced to issue two unprecedented energy watches and an energy warning, triggering emergency demand responses to keep the grid from collapsing. At our aging Northport facility, last June's heat wave pushed the power plant to its limit on its highest demand day ever.

Without fast action from the state to develop a framework for repowering aging infrastructure, the grid will eventually be forced to rely on painful emergency measures to remain upright. NYISO's plan includes potentially requiring industrial plants to cut production, lowering system voltage, and buying power from other regions at a steep cost to ratepayers.

We are actively engaged with state leaders on repowering, ensuring these vital assets evolve to meet the demands of a new era. By clearing the regulatory hurdles for repowering and prioritizing a reliability-first energy policy, we can ensure that New York remains a global leader powered by a grid that is as resilient and ambitious as the people it serves.

This guest essay reflects the views of Will Hazelip, the U.S. president of National Grid Ventures.