New York awarded nearly 1.7 GW of new capacity in renewable energy and storage, in a round that will mobilize more than USD 3.7 billion of private investment and should be fully operational by 2030.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) selected 13 renewable projects totaling more than 719 MW and eight other BESS systems totaling 950 MW , as part of its 2025 calls for proposals.
Storage is one of the main new features. The eight projects were selected from 46 proposals totaling approximately 6 GW , meaning only a fraction of the submitted capacity was awarded a contract. The installations will have operating times of between four and eight hours .
This is also the first award of the large-scale storage program under the Index Storage Credit (ISC) scheme , designed to provide developers with greater income predictability through contracts linked to electricity market conditions.
The eight contracted projects will use lithium-ion batteries and will be distributed between New York, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes and the western part of the state.
These include Lighthouse Energy Storage , in Chautauqua County; KCE NY 37 , in Suffolk; Eastwater Energy Storage, KCE NY 5, Blue Spruce Storage, Palladium Storage, Holtsville Energy Storage and Zenobe Burns.
Lighthouse will have 140 MW and an eight-hour duration , while KCE NY 37 will reach 150 MW and four hours , two of the largest-scale developments included in the first round.
NYSERDA estimates that the storage projects alone will spur more than $1.6 billion in private investment . The authority also projects that they will generate more than 500 jobs and over $90 million in economic benefits for disadvantaged communities.
All facilities must comply with the new storage safety codes that went into effect on January 1, 2026 , including requirements related to location, emergency response, and first responder training.
“These projects announced today by NYSERDA will help New York reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, ensure the state has the energy it needs year-round to maintain the electric grid, and create good jobs in the clean energy economy,” said Amanda Lefton, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
On the other side of the allocation, the 13 renewable energy projects will exceed 719 MW and include solar, onshore wind, and hydroelectric generation. Together, they could supply the equivalent annual consumption of more than 230,000 homes once completed.
The projects are distributed across different regions of the state and include developments such as Flint Mine Solar, Hecate Energy Greene 1 and 2, Wethersfield Windpark, Chateaugay Windpark, Greens Corners Solar Park, Rich Road Solar Energy Center and Canisteo Wind Energy Center, in addition to several hydroelectric power plants.
NYSERDA estimates that this renewable portfolio will mobilize more than USD 2 billion in direct investment .
Payments under the contracts will begin once the facilities have been built, obtained their permits and approvals, and started delivering energy to the grid. Some of the developments have already begun construction.
New York prepares a second round of batteries
The awarding of 950 MW is only the first stage of a broader strategy.
NYSERDA plans to launch a second annual call for large-scale storage before the end of 2026 , with the goal of contracting 3 GW through three competitive processes .
The first round already represents a significant leap: once operational, the new projects will more than double the utility-scale storage capacity currently existing in the state , according to NYSERDA.
This deployment is part of a renewable energy portfolio that already includes 95 solar, onshore wind, hydroelectric, and offshore projects , both operational and under development, totaling approximately 10.5 GW . Of that total, more than 3.2 GW are currently under construction.
With this new award, New York not only incorporates almost 1.7 GW of new infrastructure , but also begins to bring multi-hour storage to a larger scale within its electricity planning: 950 MW contracted in an initial call, compared to almost 6 GW that sought to enter the process .