New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have announced a significant investment of $405 million to bolster Long Island's electric grid. The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMPG), is aimed at strengthening the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) electrical infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather events.

This substantial grant will enable LIPA to reinforce 166 overhead circuits covering approximately 1,376 miles of its power distribution network. These enhancements are part of a broader initiative to mitigate the damage caused by severe storms like Tropical Storm Isaias, which in August 2020 left 650,000 customers without power.

A key focus of the project includes the replacement of 11,000 utility poles with stronger versions capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph, and upgrading 1,281 miles of primary electrical wires to more resilient alternatives. Additionally, 29,000 utility crossarms will be swapped for shorter, synthetic versions designed to prevent damage from falling tree limbs. The project will also see the hiring of approximately 100 additional electrical line workers over the next four years.

This initiative builds on prior efforts funded by FEMA after Hurricane Sandy, with LIPA having already storm-hardened 339 circuits. With the completion of this new project, over 50% of LIPA's overhead system will have been reinforced since 2020.

Source: tdworld.com