New York Power Authority

Organization

From 2011, the president and chief executive officer was Gil C. Quiniones. The executive staff report to a seven-member board. He resigned in 2021 to be CEO of Commonwealth Edison company in Illinois.

In 2017, it had operating expenses of $2.335 billion, an outstanding debt of $1.305 billion, and a staffing level of 2,327 people.

Justin Driscoll was voted as acting president and CEO in 2022 and automatically became president and CEO due to the New York State Senate deciding to not hold a confirmation hearing.

In 2024, Sandra Bleckman was hired as the New York Power Authority's workforce development project director.

Operations

Electric power produced from NYPA's facilities – in addition to being sold to large and small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, public power systems, government agencies, private utilities for resale (without profit) to their customers, and neighboring states, under federal requirements – is sold into the wholesale electricity market of New York State, which is administered by the NYISO. One of the larger direct sales customers of electric power is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. NYPA also provides electrical engineering consulting services to the MTA when the MTA is planning for and building new power facilities.

Facilities

Power Generation

The NYPA owns and operates hydroelectric, pumped-storage hydroelectric, open and combined cycle gas turbine, and battery electric storage power plants. It formerly owned and operated two nuclear power plants, and is currently developing two solar PV plants as well as a new nuclear power plant. The NYPA has committed to retiring all fossil fuel units by 2035.

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Electric transmission lines

The hub of NYPA’s statewide power transmission facilities is the Frederick R. Clark Energy Center, in Marcy, New York. NYPA’s high-voltage transmission assets include a 765-kilovolt (kV) line that stretches more than 100 miles from the Canada–US border to the Clark Energy Center and almost 1,000 miles of 345-kV power lines that crisscross New York State, including the Marcy South line and a 26.3 mi transmission project, that follows an underground and underwater path from Westchester County to Long Island.

New York State Canal Corporation

The New York Power Authority has been financially responsible for the New York State Canal Corporation since April 2016 and has owned it since January 1, 2017.

History

Then-New York Governor Roosevelt signed the Power Authority Act into law on April 27, 1931 that established the Power Authority of the State of New York (PASNY); the name was later changed to New York Power Authority (NYPA). Leland Olds headed the authority from 1931 to 1939.

The International Joint Commission granted its approval for a cross-border construction project in 1952. In 1953, the Federal Power Commission issued a license for NYPA to develop the U.S. portion of a power dam crossing the Canada–US border. On May 13, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that cleared the way for construction of both a hydroelectric facility and the St. Lawrence Seaway. First power was achieved in July 1958, and on June 27, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and Vice President Richard M. Nixon formally dedicated the St. Lawrence Project as a symbol of international cooperation. In 1981, NYPA’s half of the cross-border power dam was renamed the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in honor of the man who founded the Power Authority half a century earlier.

Niagara Power Project

Expanded Authority

The NYPA was newly authorized in the 2023-2024 state budget to develop, own, and operate renewable energy facilities which help meet the state's clean energy goals. A 20MW solar installation in Fort Edward and a 1.5MW solar facility in Albany were the first facilities announced under this expanded authority and are currently under development.

List of chairs of the New York Power Authority

Francis Patrick Walsh, 1931–1939.

James Cummings Bonbright, 1939–1946.

Maj.-Gen. Francis Bowditch Wilby, 1946–1950.

John Edward Burton, 1950–1954.

Robert Moses, 1954–1963.

James A. FitzPatrick, 1963–1977.

Frederick R. Clark, 1977–1979.

John Stuart Dyson, 1979–1985.

Richard M. Flynn, 1985–1994.

Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr., 1995–2001.

Joseph J. Seymour, 2001–2002, 2005–2006

Louis P. Ciminelli, 2002–2006.

Frank S. McCullough Jr., 2006–2008.

Michael J. Townsend, 2008–2012.

John R. Koelmel, 2012.

Gil C. Quiniones, 2012–2021.

Justin Driscoll, 2022–Present.

References

References

1. (January 2, 2017). "N.Y. Power Authority to Assume Ownership of Canal Corporation on New Year's Day". New York Power Authority.
2. https://ig.ny.gov/news/inspector-generals-investigation-allegations-ethical-lapses-new-york-power-authority-results
3. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/fourth-individual-charged-ongoing-new-york-power-authority-procurement-fraud-investigation-0
4. https://nysfocus.com/2023/02/16/bpra-hochul-senate-labor-utility-workers
5. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/a-year-in-new-yorks-pioneering-public-power-law-makes-uneven-progress
6. "Socialists wanted him to resign. They lost.".
7. (November 5, 2018). "NYPA Org Webpage".
8. "20220726-Trustees Vote".
9. (October 14, 2021). "StackPath".
10. (November 5, 2018). "NYSABO 2018 Report".
11. (29 July 2025). "NYPA Renewables Updated Strategic Plan". New York Power Authority.
12. "2024 Load and Capacity Data".
13. "Small Natural Gas Power Plant Transition Plan". New York Power Authority.
14. "NYPA Generating Facilities".
15. "Governor Hochul Announces New York Power Authority's First Renewable Energy Project Under Expanded Authority".
16. "Governor Hochul Announces New York Power Authority and City of Albany To Co-Develop 1.5 Mw Solar Project Atop North Albany Landfill".
17. "Governor Hochul Directs New York Power Authority To Develop a Zero-Emission Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology Power Plant".
18. "Leland Olds, 1890–1960". Gale Group.
19. "NYPA Renewables Strategic Plan". New York Power Authority.
20. "James C. Bonbright papers, 1921–1983".
21. "Officers of the US Army 1939–1945 – W".
22. "The Political Graveyard: Economist Politicians".
23. (February 14, 1988). "James FitzPatrick, 71, Ex-Head of Power Agency and Lawmaker". The New York Times.
24. (September 12, 2005). "NY Power Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Clark Energy Center".
25. McFadden, Robert D.. (1993-11-21). "Power Authority Head Quits After Months of Criticism". The New York Times.
26. (27 July 2022). "NYPA Board of Trustees appoint Driscoll as new president, CEO". NNY360.