Grid Operator Reviews Long Island Gas Generator Plan
National Grid Ventures has proposed three gas-powered generators on Long Island, which state approvals must still clear before moving forward.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities
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National Grid Ventures, the utility's unregulated arm, proposed three gas-powered generators on Long Island, including two at the E.F. Barrett plant in Nassau County and one at the Northport Power Station in Suffolk County. New York's grid operator is reviewing the filings, which were submitted in August and September.
Why it matters
The grid operator sees replacements as necessary as aging power plants deteriorate and clean energy additions lag behind demand. For New York residents, the proposal weighs grid reliability against air quality, since nitrogen oxide exposure is linked to asthma, heart disease, and lung damage.
The filings project 1,100 megawatts at Barrett and 450 megawatts at Northport, enough to supply about 1 million homes, against an oldest existing turbine that is 70 years old. Timing for the third generator remains uncertain, with a possible online date as late as 2035.
The players
National Grid Ventures
The unregulated arm of utility National Grid, which operates energy projects outside traditional rate-regulated business.
New York Communities for Change
A New York advocacy organization that organized a September protest against the proposed generators in Northport.
The details
National Grid told Newsday in September that it likely would not have a turbine in operation until the early 2030s. A small hydrogen-fueled generator will also be installed at the Northport site, and a September protest organized by New York Communities for Change was held in Northport.
Timeline
August and September 2026: National Grid Ventures submits generator proposals to the grid operator.
September 2026: Protest held in Northport as the utility signals turbine delays.
End of 2027: Target opening of the first Barrett generator unit.
Late 2029: Target opening of the Northport generator.
2035: The third generator may come online.
Roadmap
The proposals sit within New York's statutory goal of a zero-pollution grid by 2040, which requires fossil-fueled capacity to be phased out. Adding gas generators now highlights the tension between near-term reliability needs and that long-term decarbonization target.
Long Island residents could see changes in local air quality and electricity reliability as the generators come online over the next several years. The projects' timelines extend to the early 2030s, so near-term power supply and emissions will depend on how quickly state approvals are granted.
The takeaway
Power plant replacement decisions on Long Island now must balance grid reliability against air quality, and the outcome will shape how New York meets its 2040 zero-pollution goal. Residents can track the filings through state approval processes as they advance.
What happens next
The Barrett generator is targeted to open before the end of 2027, and the Northport generator is planned for late 2029, with state approvals still required before either moves forward.
Further reading
Explore more on Utilities for context on how power grid planning and generation decisions are shaping New York's energy future.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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