About NYPA

The start of the decade was off to a remarkable start when the Niagara Power Project was completed in 1961, making it the largest hydropower facility in the Western World at the time. President John F. Kennedy, who former presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman and Herbert Hoover in sending congratulations, called the Niagara project "an outstanding engineering achievement" and an "example to the world of North American efficiency and determination."

In 1965, NYPA played a pivotal role in restoring power during a significant blackout, underscoring the critical need for grid stability. The Niagara and St. Lawrence power projects continue to operate as a major blackout strikes the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. No damage is incurred by the Power Authority’s generating and transmission facilities, and normal service resumes on all lines as soon as the substations and related facilities of NYPA’s customers are operational.

In 1968, then-Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller signed legislation authorizing the Power Authority to construct pumped storage and nuclear power facilities. As a result, NYPA will build the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County and the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego County. The decade closed with the initiation of Blenheim-Gilboa, designed to provide peak load capacity and energy storage.

The 1970s were characterized by significant modernization and expansion efforts at NYPA. In 1972, Rockefeller and the state Legislature responded to an emerging energy shortfall by allowing NYPA to build generating plants to power downstate subways and commuter trains.

The Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project begins commercial operation in 1973. In 1975, electricity is produced for the first time at NYPA’s James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Ontario near Oswego in February and commercial operation begins in July.

Electricity is produced for the first time at NYPA’s Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant in 1976.

In 1979, NYPA celebrated the first anniversary of its 765-kilovolt transmission line, which begins at the Candian border near Massena. At the celebration, Chairman John S. Dyson announced the hydroelectric power carried from Quebec on the line has saved New York consumers more than $50 million and reduced the state’s oil use by more than 13 million barrels.

In 1981, NYPA celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In 1982, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grants the Power Authority a license to build and operate a 9,000-kilowatt hydroelectric project at Hinckley Reservoir in Herkimer and Oneida counties. The facility begins generating electricity in 1986 and is named in honor of Gregory B. Jarvis, who grew up nearby and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster earlier that year.

Dedication ceremonies are held in 1982 at the Ashokan Hydropower Project, the first in a series of small hydroelectric facilities that NYPA will develop to reduce New York State’s dependence on foreign oil.

In 1984, NYPA implements advanced control and monitoring systems across its facilities, 
significantly improving operational efficiency. 

By 1986, NYPA was adapting to the new regulatory environment brought about by energy market deregulation, positioning itself to compete effectively. The introduction of combined-cycle gas turbines in 1988 marks a leap in power generation efficiency, showcasing NYPA's commitment to technological innovation.

In 1990, the launch of the Energy Efficiency Program aims to reduce energy consumption in public buildings and facilities, further solidifying NYPA’s role as a leader in energy efficiency.

Throughout the 1990s, NYPA establishes itself as a leader in environmental stewardship. In 1991, the Power Authority sets ambitious goals for emissions reduction and sustainability, reflecting a strong commitment to the environment.

In 1991, Dr. Story Musgrave, a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, takes 400- million-year-old fossils from NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project on his 10-day trip into space.

By 1994, significant environmental upgrades at the Niagara Power Project had been completed, reducing emissions and improving water quality.

The launch of NYPA's first solar energy pilot project in 1995 tests the viability of solar power in New York State.

In 1997, the introduction of the Green Power Program offers customers the option to purchase renewable energy, promoting cleaner energy choices. The decade ends with the completion of environmental upgrades and modernization at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in 2000, further reducing environmental impact and improving efficiency.

NYPA sells the James A. FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants.

In the first decade of the 21st century, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) embarks on a transformative journey marked by modernization, sustainability and community support, with significant advancements in renewable energy and grid modernization.

Gov. George E. Pataki announces in 2002 that all 80,000 kilowatts of low-cost NYPA electricity previously supplied to the World Trade Center have been reallocated to Lower Manhattan businesses displaced because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The program helps about 60 firms, employing more than 40,000 workers.

In the mid-2000s, the Authority explores solar options and enhanced its environmental stewardship through projects aimed at reducing emissions and improving local ecosystems. Despite facing economic turbulence and energy crises in the late 2000s, NYPA remained committed to providing reliable power and supporting economic recovery through job creation and infrastructure investment.

A comprehensive grid modernization program begins in 2006, including the deployment of smart grid technologies and advanced metering infrastructure. In 2008, NYPA starts constructing the first large-scale energy storage project to enhance grid reliability and integrate renewable energy sources.

By the end of the decade, NYPA had firmly establishes itself as a forward-thinking leader in the energy sector, dedicated to meeting New York State's energy needs while paving the way for a sustainable future.

The 2010s and beyond have been a period of innovation and future-focused initiatives for NYPA. In 2012, NYPA launches the Build Smart NY initiative, targeting a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption in public buildings by 2020. The following year, the Energy Efficiency Innovation Collaborative was introduced, fostering public-private partnerships to develop and deploy innovative energy technologies.

In 2016, NYPA unveils its Vision 2020 strategic plan, aiming to become the first fully digital utility in the U.S. by leveraging data and technology to enhance operations.

The completion of the Marcy South Series Compensation Project in 2017 enhances the transmission capacity and reliability of the state’s power grid. The launch of NYPA’s New York Energy Manager service in 2018 provides a state-of-the-art energy management center offering real-time data analytics for optimizing energy use across the state.

In 2021, NYPA continues to lead in clean energy initiatives, developing offshore wind projects and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure across New York State.

The introduction of the Smart Path Connect project in 2022 aims to modernize the transmission system to accommodate more renewable energy.

In 2023, NYPA celebrates its 90th anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability, innovation and providing reliable, affordable and clean energy to New Yorkers.

NYPA is a leader in driving New York State toward a cleaner, greener and more equitable energy future through its VISION2030 Renewed strategy, unveiled in 2025. This strategy includes sustainability goals, strategies and initiatives to support the state's transition to a carbon-free economy.

In 2023, state lawmakers expand NYPA’s role in the renewable energy sector, giving it new authority to plan, design, finance, construct, own, operate, maintain and improve renewable energy generation projects. This includes developing new clean energy generation resources, expanding the high-voltage transmission network and transitioning small natural gas power plants to cease fossil fuel generation.