New York utilities are betting on a $4B grid overhaul to connect upstate renewables to the cities and data centers that need them, but the costs are fueling an affordability crisis. (Times Union)
With 30% of the state’s transmission lines past their useful line, the “Upstate Upgrade” aims to turn rural power corridors into a high-capacity energy freeway, finally allowing trapped wind and solar to flow to urban centers.
While utilities pitch this as a necessary modernization, the financing model forces residential ratepayers to shoulder the bill for developer-friendly upgrades, raising questions about public payers subsidizing private profit.