New York State sends teams to Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands to rebuild grids

New York State has deployed two teams of grid experts from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to support Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in their efforts to rebuild their electric grids, which were severely damaged by recent hurricanes.

“New York has a unique relationship with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we will continue to direct critical resources to the island to help ensure they are prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store in the future,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “Recovery and rebuilding is not a quick fix, especially with today’s climate change challenges, and we are committed to assisting and guiding our island neighbors as they transition to a stable power system and build back better and stronger than before.”

Along with operational support, the NYPA teams will work with the local utilities to apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That funding will be used to rebuild and harden the power systems in those countries.

“We are continuing to strengthen our partnership with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by providing increased support to rebuild and modernize their electric grids,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “These efforts will help to stabilize power systems, reduce blackouts, and enhance resiliency on the islands. This deployment builds on our commitment to provide assistance and resources in the aftermath of severe weather events and help our neighbors fully recover while preparing for the future.”

More than 450 New York State utility personnel went to Puerto Rico in November 2017 after Hurricane Maria to help restore power. Many of the workers were there for close to a year.

“We at NYPA are honored to bring New York State’s utility expertise to both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help our island colleagues harden their systems and provide, in the longer term, affordable and renewable energy to residents and visitors on these beautiful islands. NYPA has been very active in providing post-storm support and we are committed to continuing our operational support and guidance,” Gil Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO, said.