The New York State Public Service Commission has approved a New York Power Authority (NYPA) project to rebuild and operate its aging 86-mile long Moses-Adirondack 1 and 2 transmission lines to deliver power from Canada and northern New York to other parts of the state.

The commission also approved an upgrade to its Moses Switchyard and the Adirondack substation “to provide a more robust, resilient and reliable electric system in Upstate New York,” the announcement said.

“We commend NYPA for advancing this critical transmission project which will ensure reliable service throughout New York State,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes.

The work will aid in the transmission of power generated by hydro and other renewable facilities in Canada and upstate New York.

They will also support future expansion to meet Governor Andrew Cuomo clean energy goals.

“This project is necessary to rebuild facilities that are well past their design lives to make them more resilient and reduce maintenance costs. The proposed transmission lines are needed to deliver electricity, including carbon-free hydroelectric power, from Northern New York to the rest of the State; to re -energize the bulk electric system as a component of the New York Independent System Operator’s System Restoration Plan in the event of a future widespread outage; and to provide increased capacity for future expansion to meet New York’s Clean Energy Standard, the annoubcement from the PSC said.

The 230 kV Moses-Adirondack 1 and 2 lines extend approximately 86 miles from the St. Lawrence Power Project’s Robert Moses Power Dam Switchyard in the Town of Massena to the Adirondack Substation in the Town of Croghan in Lewis County.

The announcement says the upgrade will be done “nearly entirely within an existing right-of-way that it maintains or on other property that it owns or controls’ the announcement said.

The proposal “addresses the statutory and regulatory issues pertaining to NYPA’s request, adequately discusses all probable environmental impacts, and addresses the steps needed to ensure that the project as proposed represents the minimal adverse environmental impact, considering the state of available technology and the nature and economics of various alternatives and other pertinent considerations,” according to the announcement.