New York faces the possibility of blackouts if it fails to bring new generating capacity on line. The president of the New York Independent System Operator said that the state could be driven to the brink in the coming years without additional electricity supplies.
While the state is nowhere near the crisis situation reached in California, its situation is moving in the wrong direction. There are currently 85 power projects proposed for the state but only two have been approved. The approval process can take several years, and construction a further two to three. However the New York Public Service Commission said that applications were complete for another five plants including three in New York City which could be online by June.