Biodiversity

Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the vast variety of plants and animals on Earth. In 2023, severe climate change impacts have been experienced across the northeast, especially within our territory. One of the main effects of climate change has been biodiversity loss. Natural habitat where biodiversity decreased is susceptible to consequences such as species extinction, invasive species recruitment, and lower habitat resiliency. Con Edison’s territory encompasses unique environments like wetlands, lush woodlands, meadows, and various waterways that we are committed to helping protect.

In recent years our company developed, implemented various initiatives, and strengthened our policy and procedures to protect biodiversity & natural habitat, shown in our 2023 Biodiversity Action Plan. Recently we released a progress update in our 2023 Biodiversity Action Plan showcasing the work we’ve accomplished so far. We will continue to build upon the accomplishments we’ve made in 2023.

“CECONY, Orange & Rockland, and Con Edison Transmission are committed to promoting and supporting biodiversity in our service territories. As a corporation with deep roots in our communities, we have the power to protect high biodiversity value areas to foster a thriving natural environment. We are focused on reducing our emissions and pollution impacts and implementing sustainable design practices. We set high expectations in our operations and are aiming for a “net-positive impact” on biodiversity. This responsibility is supported by our Board of Directors and aligns with our mission to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.” – Venetia A. Lannon, Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety.

Biodiversity Programs

Con Edison has developed programs to help minimize environmental impacts and implement potential net-positive benefits to areas where we operate. Listed below are various programs that we have developed into policy for our workers:

• Transmission Right-of-Way Vegetation Management Plan – helps mitigate the volume of maintenance work performed in our more than 8,100 acres of rights-of-way to reduce impacts on native species.
• Biodiversity Baseline Value Assessment – Evaluate the species richness inside our electric transmission line rights-of-ways.
• Invasive Species Management Plan – Helps identify invasives for field workers and sets guidelines for their removal. •
• Rewild Company Land – Target to rewild three acres of company land by the end of 2024.
• Sustainable design engineering protocol – systematically identify and help mitigate biodiversity risks in early design stages of a project.

Con Edison has established a framework to promote the early identification of biodiversity concerns and emphasizes the development of safe, sustainable design alternatives and mitigation strategies early during the design phase of a project. More information regarding the project support team that implements best-practice mitigation hierarchy strategies is explained in our 2023 Biodiversity Action Plan. Our policy, procedures and guidelines reflect these considerations by educating employees how to protect habitat and biodiversity during design, construction, operations, and maintenance.

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (CECONY)

CECONY’s rewilding program kicked off with building 1.1 acres of natural habitat at two facilities, our Eastview Service Center and our Rye Headquarters. CECONY’s rewilding initiative focuses on identifying unutilized areas on our property and reintroducing native plants to the location. Our team designed two native species seed mixes, one that focused on general pollinator friendly plants that would be utilized by a wide diversity of local bees and butterflies, and one specifically preferred by Monarch Butterflies, such as common milkweed. The Power in Pollinator initiative created by EPRI is a program that will help promote education about the importance of CECONY’s rewilding. CECONY is a major partner and promoter of the initiative. Throughout the summer after planting, our natural resources scientists monitored the growth and integrity of new habitat and found many thriving ecosystems have been established.

Looking forward, we plan to rewild more sites and reach our goal of 3 acres by the end of 2024. As CECONY identifies more potential sites our focus will include environmental justice areas to help enhance the environment in disadvantaged communities. Our focus will include areas in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Westchester, the Bronx, and Queens.

Pollinator program on Governors Island.

Last year, we collaborated with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) to initiate a four-year Biodiversity Assessment Study on 60 acres of our electric transmission line Rights-of-Way. This assessment was initiated to analyze the ecosystem contributions our rights-of-way provides and collect baseline biodiversity data to measure the richness and community composition of native species. At the end of 2023, SUNY ESF presented their findings to our natural resources team, some of their key findings are listed below:

• 684 insect pollinators (bees and flies) composing at least 95 unique species (35 genera) were sampled across CECONY sites in Summer 2023.
• 54 bird species were observed across CECONY sites in Summer 2023.
• 277 plant species in 175 genera were documented across CECONY sites in Summer 2023. Many native herbaceous flowering species (e.g., forbs) known to provide pollen and nectar resources to native bees, such as yarrow, wrinkle-leaved goldenrod, wood sorrel, and ground strawberry, were found at 66% of the sites or more.
• The two sites with the greatest plant species richness were found in Kent and Wappingers Falls, New York. The Kent site supported at least 15 native forbs and nine native shrub species that are beneficial to bees, such as black raspberry, highbush blueberry, and white meadowsweet. Wappingers Falls site supported 25 native forbs, with various goldenrods, wood sorrel, and wild geranium detected the most frequently.
• Two very rare and under-sampled bees, Epeoloides Pilosulus & Nomada Electella were collected in Putnam Valley.
• A single individual of the Golden Northern bumble bee (Bombus Fervidus) was sampled, a species that was listed as “vulnerable” on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2014.

Epeoloides Pilosulus (L); Melitta Melittoides (C); Nomada Electella (R)

Our rights-of-way act as an excellent habitat for many pollinator species because of the shrub and semi-forest composition which is not found in the areas adjacent to our rights-of-way.

Additionally, CECONY filed our transmission line territory to be certified with a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA), to continue providing healthy habitat for Monarch butterflies, a species currently considered for federal listing.

Thinking Outside The Hive.A short documentary on the importance of pollinators and Con Edison’s role in providing them habitats along our transmission lines.

Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc (O&R)

In the Spring of 2023, SUNY ESF initiated a four-year Biodiversity Index Study in which seventeen O&R Biodiversity Enhancement Areas and control sites, including transmission line rights-of-way, substations, and facility greenspaces, were evaluated to determine the ecosystem contribution of restored areas (referred to as biodiversity enhancement areas) to plant and pollinator abundance and diversity. Biodiversity Enhancement Area is an area that’s designed to become native plant rich and abundant such that interaction diversity with native wildlife increases.

According to the 2023 report prepared by SUNY ESF, the baseline study found that 263 plants species and 949 species of insect pollinators, composed of 87 unique species, were sampled across all seventeen sites. In total, there were 240 unique plant-insect interactions recorded.

In summary, SUNY ESF indicated that the O&R Biodiversity Enhancement Areas had higher pollinator abundance (2.7x greater) and slightly higher richness (1.23x greater). This suggests that the restoration efforts by O&R at the Biodiversity Enhancement Areas may be promoting ideal habitat for local insect pollinators. Middletown Operating Center and Deerpark Substation showed the greatest abundance of insect pollinators, and since these sites have had the most growing seasons of all sites, it suggests that the newly created areas will also show the same relative success over the next number of years. Three more years remain in the study. Abundance and richness are expected to increase across all sites and therefore further suggest enhancement efforts are aiding biodiversity.

O&R also established nine new Biodiversity Enhancement Areas within its service territory:

• Six within overhead electric transmission line rights-of-way,
• Two within substation parcels, and
• One facility-owned parcel

Collectively, over 700 pounds of native seed mixtures were sown to create the 10.25 acres of new Biodiversity Enhancement Area. O&R also added more than 1,000 native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plantings. All locations were additionally enhanced via the strategic incorporation of microhabitat areas, avian perching zones, bee and wasp nesting cavities, and artificial bird nesting boxes.

Project Highlight:

The Kaitlyn’s Rights-of-Way Enhancement Area is approximately 1.10 acres in size and is located beneath a transmission line between Monsey Heights Road and New County Road in the Town of Monsey, Rockland County, New York. This area is owned by O&R and is maintained as an overhead transmission rights-of-way. This parcel was partially comprised of a monoculture of bamboo, a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation noxious species, that increased the threat of outages and service interruptions. As such, increased vegetation management work, as well as customer complaints and reduced biodiversity, were occurring in this area.

Construction started on the Kaitlyn’s Rights-of-Way Enhancement Area in 2023. The area was rototilled three times, re-graded, and seeded with a native seed mixture. A bamboo barrier was also added to reduce and eliminate the species from spreading. Invasive species management is ongoing, and education and awareness signs were added to the area. The remainder of the work is expected to be completed in 2024.

External Education and Awareness:

O&R installed two native plant gardens at elementary schools within the service territory, including:

• Northvale Elementary School, Northvale, Bergen County, NJ
• Eldorado Elementary School. Spring Valley, Rockland County, NJ

This installation included students’ participation and instruction on the importance of native plants and habitats for enabling interaction in biodiversity. Additionally, O&R celebrated multiple ecological days with the community in 2023, including:

• World Bee Day: May 20th, 2023 – Stony Point Elementary School, Stony Point, Rockland County, NY
• National Moth Week: July 20 – 28th, 2023 – All One All Farm, Goshen, Orange County, NY

Con Edison Transmission, Inc. (CET)

CET continues its efforts to advance the Company’s Clean Energy Commitment through growth in electric transmission projects. CET’s portfolio of investments includes New York Transco, a joint venture among affiliates of the four New York investor-owned utilities. In 2023, NY Transco energized the New York Energy Solution (NYES) and Rock Tavern to Sugarloaf (RTS) projects, totaling 67 miles of new 345kV transmission and four new substations in the Hudson Valley area that are serving New York customers. These projects, working with other upgrades, relieve historic congestion on New York’s bulk electric system, while facilitating the delivery of clean energy resources.

Throughout construction, NY Transco implemented a number of special precautions to protect biodiversity and the environment.

Upon completing NYES and RTS construction, New York (NY) Transco fully restored all disturbed areas, including the transmission corridor, laydown yards, and substations, by removing all protective wooden construction mats and construction-related equipment, and revegetating with native species. Throughout this process, NY Transco retained an Agricultural and Environmental Inspector to oversee all activities related to restoration. The NY Transco team will monitor the progress of restoration over the next two years, to confirm that grass continues to grow, vegetation blooms, and the agricultural landscape thrives in and around its assets (picture below).

In addition, NY Transco’s commitment to biodiversity led to a partnership with The Wetland Trust, Inc. (TWT) in support of the not-for profit’s annual Blanding’s turtle nest protection and habitat monitoring program at two Hudson Valley locations outside the corridor. Through this important program, TWT staff and community volunteers monitor expectant females on their nesting areas in spring and protect their eggs from predation using temporary wire nest covers. TWT monitors these covers daily and releases the new hatchlings back to their wetland.

In the photos above, the left shows a portion of the NYES corridor as our crews prepared to remove the existing lattice structures. On the right is the same location today with the new monopoles in place and site restoration underway.

In addition to the completion of the NYES and RTS projects, an estimated $3 billion NY Transco project developed in collaboration with the New York Power Authority – Propel NY Energy – was selected by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) in a recent competitive public policy transmission solicitation. Propel NY Energy includes 90 miles of new underground and submarine high voltage transmission lines and four new stations through parts of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County that will bolster area reliability and resiliency and help deliver more clean energy into the statewide electric grid, including offshore wind.

NY Transco expects to apply its environmental protection, biodiversity and restoration best practices in the construction of Propel NY Energy. The number one priority of Propel NY Energy is the health and safety of its crews, the environment, and the area communities. The project team is conducting detailed environmental studies and working with federal, state and local agencies and stakeholders to help ensure that its engineering and design, construction, and future operations minimize impacts to the surrounding environment. Impacts from construction are temporary and restoration and other plans will put temporarily disturbed areas back to original or better condition. Additionally, this project is critical to improving the overall environment by helping unlock the delivery of clean energy thereby reducing carbon emissions and improving overall air quality and environmental conditions.

Future for 2024 & Beyond

CECONY

For updates please refer to our Biodiversity Action Plan. Later in 2024, we are planning to rewild more sites for a total rewilded area of at least three acres, using approximately 60 native herbaceous species that will attract butterflies and other pollinators, and add native habitat to areas which are susceptible to flooding as a mitigation method. Bioswales and berms will be developed on different sites to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels and climate change while also enhancing manicured areas to incorporate new habitat. Bioswales are channels designed to contain, concentrate and convey stormwater runoff, while removing debris and pollution. They are used to reduce flooding and recharge groundwater at more natural rates. Berms are mounds of natural soil used to exclude stormwater runoff from selected areas.

Expanding on our collaboration with SUNY ESF, CECONY will develop a biodiversity risk assessment identifying what sections of our Rights-of-way could be most susceptible to degradation by climate change, human development, invasive species, and other aspects that would diminish the available environment.

CECONY is also considering implementing two living shoreline projects in Brooklyn and Queens at our Newtown Creek and Flushing Creek stations. These projects can enhance the waterfront area by decreasing our bulkhead footprint and installing a natural slope with tidal marsh to simulate the native habitat that was originally growing within the NYC region. These areas can also help buffer against sea level rise and reduce wave energy while also promoting habitat creation for surrounding species.

CECONY will also be completing an impingement and entrainment study at our 59th Street station that will assess what species are inhabiting the areas below our facility while testing if there are impacts to the area.

O&R

In 2024, O&R will continue building the three new initiatives, including:

1. Development and implementation of an Avian Protection Program – O&R anticipates drafting and finalizing an avian protection plan that addresses three key areas: (a) reducing avian collisions with powerlines, (b) reducing service interruptions, and (c) increasing education and awareness.
2. Bumble Bee Diversity – O&R will be working with SUNY ESF to sample and define the abundance and diversity of native bumble bee populations along overhead electric transmission line rights-of-ways within the service territory in preparation for inclusion into the Bumble Bee CCAA.
3. Green shoreline armoring – In 2024, O&R expects to complete its first green armoring project along a stream shoreline in Haverstraw, Rockland County, New York. Pole 57 along Transmission Line Y88 involves hard armoring for protection, however, it also includes the use of interstitial spacing to install native shrubs that benefit local birds and pollinator species. This project may serve as an example for future shoreline armoring projects if proven successful.

Lastly, ten additional biodiversity enhancement areas are planned in 2024 and are expected to total over five acres.