Con Edison Begins Construction on $1.2B Project To Support Electrification of JFK Airport, MTA Buses
NEW YORK—On Oct. 1, Con Edison marked the start of construction of its Reliable Clean City – Idlewild Project, which will support the electrification of John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s switch to electric buses, and electrification of buildings in Jamaica, Queens, NY.
The company celebrated the milestone with a ceremony, attended by representatives of the New York State Public Service Commission, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, elected officials and community leaders.
“The Reliable Clean City – Idlewild Project represents a major milestone in our strategy to create a clean energy future where every New Yorker can share in the benefits of a reliable, climate-resilient grid,” said Tim Cawley, Con Edison’s chairman and chief executive. “We’re proud to break ground on this project that will enable the electrification for downtown Jamaica, JFK International Airport, and the MTA’s fleet of buses, while also increasing reliability for our customers, creating good jobs, and advancing New York’s climate goals.”
“We plan to achieve significant Minority- and Women-Owned Business participation on the project and look forward to partnering with our elected and local community partners to achieve that goal,” Mr. Cawley added.
“As the largest public bus system in North America, we are leading the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future one electric bus at a time,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “MTA’s ambitious plan to transition to an all zero-emissions fleet by 2040 wouldn’t be possible without upgrades to the electric grid like the Reliable Clean City – Idlewild Project, which gives us the added power we need plus room to expand our program in the future.”
The project will enable Con Edison to accommodate increased demand as well as new sources of renewable energy, all while increasing reliability for Queens customers for decades to come. This will pave the way for residents and businesses to use cleaner energy to charge vehicles and electrify heating and other equipment.
In addition, it will provide interconnection points for energy storage and enable large clean energy resources to interconnect with the Con Edison system, which advances the state’s renewable energy goals included in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“We’re proud to join the celebration of this critical infrastructure project. Con Edison’s Reliable Clean City – Idlewild Project will create good paying, green jobs and have a powerfully positive impact on the Southeast Queens community,” said Jim Shillitto, president of Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America. “This initiative underscores the crucial role utility workers play in making the clean energy future a reality. Our diverse and dedicated workers are leading the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $15 billion in annual revenues for the year-end 2023 and $68 billion in assets as of June 30, 2024. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam, and serves 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County.