Every day at National Grid, more than 5,600 Upstate New York colleagues are working together to build a smarter, stronger, cleaner, and affordable energy future for our customers and communities. It’s why we are embarking on the Upstate Upgrade, the largest transmission transformation in our history, to modernize our electric system to support the Empire State’s climate, clean energy, and equity goals.
National Grid is expected to invest more than $4 billion, which will have a beneficial cascading effect on Upstate New York economies from new construction jobs to increased spending at local businesses.
A third-party analysis of Upstate Upgrade work by the consultancy West Monroe shows significant potential for economic growth and impact.
Jobs
The Upstate Upgrade could create more than 8,600 jobs across the areas where this work takes place.
Construction work alone will lead to the creation of more than 1,700 direct jobs, as we seek laborers, engineers and construction managers to build these projects. More than half of the jobs will be sourced in the regions where the work takes place.
Thousands of new jobs could be created indirectly by the Upstate Upgrade. Increased spending on building materials and the hospitality industry by our project teams could spur growth in these sectors. Energy-intensive businesses such as manufacturers and data centers could choose these regions to take advantage of the abundance of renewable energy. Emerging technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles will need local installers and service technicians to set up and maintain customer equipment.
The Upstate Upgrade means thousands of new jobs for the region, not just boosting local businesses, but also increasing property values and the prospects for new storefronts in the region with improved energy infrastructure. As an upstate New York resident, it's a real win-win for community members and business owners with more reliable electric service, opportunities for greater economic expansion, and long-term prosperity in our counties for generations to come.
— Paul DeCotis, senior partner at West Monroe
Local Economies
Projects in the Upstate Upgrade are anticipated to generate more than $1.9 billion in direct economic output, through the purchase of building materials, retail spending, contractual costs and new businesses enabled by the projects. Over $1 billion in economic activity is forecast in the Mohawk Valley and North Country alone.
