National Grid Takes New York Green

In this episode of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg talks with
Rudy Wynter who is the president of National Grid New York. The
discussion focuses on the investments needed to reach the state’s
climate goals.


“We have very ambitions climate goals in New York State, 70%
renewable electricity by 2030; 100% decarbonized electricity by
2040. In order to get to those kinds of targets we need to start
now,” said Wynter.


According to Wynter, that means massive investments in
infrastructure and technology.


“We’re going to need all of it. We’re going to need electric
vehicles. We’re going to need to electrify big portions of the
heating sector. We’re going to need battery energy storage. We’ll
need solar, wind. We’ll need carbon capture and storage. But we
will also need to identify a role that the existing natural gas
network can play and I think there is clearly a role it can
play.”


Wynter also talks about the prospect of using hydrogen in natural
gas.


“Blending green hydrogen, hydrogen that’s produced by renewables,
but blending that hydrogen into the gas distribution network to
create a lower carbon fuel in that network.”


Finally, Wynter reveals what concerns him about our energy
future.


Rudy Wynter leads National Grid’s regulated energy delivery
portfolio that provides electricity and natural gas service to 4
million customers across New York. He is responsible for the
financial, operational, and customer-focused performance of the
New York business and manages the relationships with regulators,
government officials and the communities National Grid
serves. 


In his more than 30-year tenure at National Grid and its legacy
companies, Mr. Wynter has served in several senior and
operational roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of
the company’s Wholesale Networks & Capital Delivery
business. 


He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from
Pratt Institute and an MBA from Fordham University.