A $405 million federal government grant will support critical upgrades and replacements to the Long Island Power Authority’s electrical infrastructure, aimed at mitigating the impacts of future extreme weather events.
The grant, which was announced this summer, will enhance the electrical transmission and distribution system across Long Island and the Rockaways.
The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
The increased funding will enable LIPA to strengthen 166 overhead circuits covering approximately 1,376 miles of its power distribution network, following the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias.
Additionally, the funding will allow LIPA to storm harden an additional 166 overhead three-phase primary circuits. LIPA completed 339 circuits with FEMA mitigation funding after Hurricane Sandy. Between these two grants, LIPA will have storm hardened more than 50 percent of its overhead system since 2020.
LIPA Acting Chief Executive Office John Rhodes said, “Our customers want and deserve reliable and resilient electric service. This additional funding will significantly bolster our ongoing efforts to build a stronger power grid and allow us to be better equipped to handle future weather challenges. We thank FEMA, along with all our partners in the federal government, for their continued support.”
Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees Chair Tracey Edwards said, “The LIPA Board of Trustees is dedicated to delivering clean, reliable, and affordable energy while ensuring the lowest long-term costs for our customers. This substantial federal funding will empower us to undertake essential upgrades to our electrical grid, enhancing its resilience and reliability. We are grateful for FEMA’s support and commend the dedicated LIPA staff for their commitment and work in driving this project forward.”
Key components of the project include:
- Stronger utility poles: Approximately 11,000 utility poles will be replaced with stronger, more resilient poles capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds up to 135 mph. These poles will have a stronger base while maintaining the same height as the existing ones.
- Enhanced electrical wire: 1,281 miles of primary wire will be upgraded to more durable and resilient alternatives.
- Narrow profile crossarms: To prevent damage from falling tree limbs, 29,000 utility crossarms will be replaced with shorter, synthetic versions. These crossarms offer a useful life of 30 years, compared to their wooden counterparts.
- Increased workforce: There will be an increase of approximately 100 electrical line workers over the project’s four-year construction. These additional line workers will assist with power restoration during major weather events and contribute to the local economy.
In total, the project will take five years to be completed.
As a public authority, LIPA is eligible to pursue grant opportunities to help offset the cost of storm recovery and climate resiliency for its customers.
Over the past decade, LIPA has secured multiple FEMA grants for storm hardening, including recovery from Superstorm Sandy (2012) and Tropical Storm Isaias (2020). These grants have substantially reduced customer costs by $2.3 billion.
Mitigation efforts funded through FEMA have proven effective, with storm-hardened circuits performing 50 percent better compared to unmitigated circuits during extreme weather events, a news release from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said.
