Queens businesses along the transmission route of Propel NY Energy’s upcoming energy infrastructure project, which will address aging and critical deficiencies in core energy infrastructure, will be receiving postcard mailers this week inviting them to complete a voluntary survey and provide feedback on their operations in order to maximize project efficiency and limit disruptions.

Propel NY Energy, a $3.26 billion collaboration between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York Transco, finalized the full 90-mile route last week and expanded the survey to include the entire project footprint, including areas of northeast Queens.

Project officials said the survey — which is available for businesses of all sizes and types — is designed to gather information and feedback about local business operations that can aid in construction planning and sequencing. It will collect details such as business hours, location specifications, parking availability, number of employees, seasonal changes in operations and other considerations.  

To further maximize participation in Queens, Propel is partnering with the Queens Chamber of Commerce (QCC) to help disseminate the survey.  

Businesses can complete the survey in English or Spanish by visiting PropelNYEnergy.com/Business-Survey.

Construction crews will eventually be installing new underground and submarine transmission lines to improve the flow of energy across parts of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County and support a stronger statewide electric grid. 

Project officials said they are still in the permitting process, but construction is expected to begin in late 2026 in discrete areas along the Long Island route and proceed in phases to meet the 2030 in-service date. While there is no concrete start date for construction in Queens, project officials estimated it could begin in 2027.

Propel said it is committed to robust and ongoing community engagement. To date, the team has hosted 32 open houses and community information sessions, participated in 47 local tabling events, sent more than 22 rounds of mailers to over 24,000 project neighbors and conducted more than 3,500 direct touchpoints with over 4,600 stakeholders. 

This survey, officials said, intends to build on that outreach and provide another opportunity for the community to give important feedback on any potential temporary impacts. 

“From the start, our approach has been to engage early, communicate often and ensure our process is inclusive, bringing in as many voices as possible from the local communities,” said Shannon Baxevanis, director of communications and public affairs at New York Transco. “This survey will give area businesses a direct way to share their operational needs with us, so we can plan construction in a way that supports their continued success while we deliver critical infrastructure that benefits all New Yorkers.” 

Susan Craig — director of integrated media and marketing, as well as communications and external affairs at NYPA — encouraged businesses to share information to ensure Propel project officials could move forward in an informed way.

“This vital transmission backbone will have benefits for all New York businesses, ensuring they have access to reliable power,” she emphasized. “This business survey will help us understand business needs so that the project team can factor this information into planning and construction execution efforts.” 

Queens officials weighed in on the project, noting why Propel is important for long-term protection against power outages. They pointed to recent heatwaves that have strained the power grid, resulting in Con Edison shutting off power to thousands of Southeast Queens homes and businesses.

“Our community recently experienced what happens when the electric grid fails,” said Council Member Ty Hankerson. “Strengthening the system will help protect residents from facing that kind of failure again, but the work must come with clear communication, so people know what to expect in their neighborhoods. I am looking forward to seeing how this survey develops.”

Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, said projects like Propel are forward-looking investments needed to modernize the power grid and, as a result, support small businesses, attract investment and grow the economy.

“Queens businesses know firsthand that a reliable electric grid isn’t a luxury — it’s essential to keeping the lights on, serving customers, protecting inventory and creating jobs,” Grech said. “The recent heatwave was a reminder that our energy infrastructure is under growing strain just as demand is increasing. If we want to remain competitive, we have to build for the future today.”

For more information about the project, visit PropelNYEnergy.com.