PRINCETON, NJ – The organization that sets the standards for the nation’s power grid released a report last week stating that more transmission lines will be needed if the country hopes to utilize renewable energy sources and satisfy a two-fold increase in electricity demand that’s expected over the next ten years.

However, New York and several others states listed in the “Mid-Atlantic” National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor – areas the federal government says have critical electricity constraints – were not specifically pointed out as problem areas.

The North American Electricity Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) report also re-affirms a recent state energy report that says New York Regional Interconnect’s 190-mile-long power line isn’t needed – so long as utilities complete planned transmission upgrades.

“Sufficient market solutions (from utilities) as well as updated transmission owner’s plans have been proposed to more than meet the needs through 2016,” states NERC’s report on New York.

NERC is a federally regulated non-profit organization that sets reliability standards for the wholesale electricity industry and oversees state and regional grid operators like New York’s Independent System Operator (NYISO).

NYRI is proposing to build a $1.6 billion power line from Utica to Orange County that the company claims would relieve energy constraints downstate. The line would split the length of Chenango and Madison counties, many of whose residents have come out against the project, concerned it would devastate property values, ruin scenic views, alter the environment and pose unnecessary health risks related to electro-magnetic fields.

In its annual report released in September, NYISO stated that NYRI’s project “need not be implemented.”

However, power line officials say the NERC report substantiates their position that their project would open up the grid to more renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power generators.

“It (the report) basically supports NYRI’s contention that there is an intrinsic relationship between the development of renewable sources, which New York state supports and vigorously pursues through its ‘Renewable Portfolio Standards’ commitment, and new transmission lines, like the one NYRI proposes,” said company spokesman David Kalson in an e-mail Thursday.

NERC President and CEO Rick Sergel said delivering renewable energy from its source is challenging because there’s of a lack of transmission lines.