June 27, 2024

Buffalo’s Power Puzzle – WNY Electric Grid Near Capacity

Jacob Tierney, Buffalo Business First

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Electric towers and power lines
team-member
Featuring: Dennis W. Elsenbeck

Billions of dollars of upgrades are in the works, but are they happening fast enough to meet demand?

Dennis Elsenbeck was quoted in a Buffalo Business First article discussing the issue of WNY’s electric grid nearing capacity, with usage expected to skyrocket. Dennis notes that a big part of the problem with planning ahead is that there is no comprehensive cost estimate on what it would take to upgrade the grid to meet NYS’s goals. If there was a comprehensive cost estimate, Dennis says it could spur more innovation on the private side. Tools like battery storage and local microgrids could help large power users offset their costs and reduce their share of the load.

The full article, “Buffalo Unlocked: Buffalo’s Power Puzzle,” can be read on the Buffalo Business First website.

Dennis W. Elsenbeck
Head of Energy and Sustainability, Energy Consulting Services