With downstate clean energy goals on the mind, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has reignited the conversation over a transmission line that extends from Canada down into New York, and more transmission lines that begin upstate and reach its lower metropolis.
Although Canada-U.S. transmission lines exist across the northern border, this new project is intriguing as renewable energy goals continue as the focus through this decade. The New York-Canada transmission line would allow New York to take hydropower created in Canada and make it part of the state's renewable energy portfolio, helping it reach its own clean energy goals.
I'm not sure there are many northern border states whose south end looks as drastically different as the north end, but this project would significantly help out lower New York. The bureaucratic process of a province/state energy agreement will also be interesting to watch. Canada's hydropower portfolio is strong, it begs the question of how crucial a role the country could play in helping the northern U.S. reach clean power goals. It also begs the question that with upgrades to transmission technology, how far Canadian hydropower can reach.