New York State is offering $12 million in grant funding for emergency permanent generators at “strategically located” gas stations in the downstate region.
The funding will offset up to 100 percent of a competitively selected gas station’s cost of purchasing and installing a permanent emergency generator. It will support installation of permanent generators at up to 200 stations.
Gas stations must apply to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority by Sept. 15.
Eligible gas stations must have a minimum of four dispensing units and must be located outside the 500-year flood plain. A map depicting the 500-year floodplain is available here.
The state says its goal is to identify the most strategically located gas stations that are capable of servicing the largest number of customers with motor fuel and additional services to support community disaster recovery efforts. Gas stations will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Services offered, including fuel types, whether the gas station is also a convenience store, etc.
- Fuel capacity including number and size of dispensers and fuel storage
Accessibility including proximity to major highways and area traffic patterns - Type of clientele such as first responders, local and state emergency officials, etc.
- Project Cost, including cost per kW and cost optimization
The initiative was announced yesterday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who sited the ‘crippling’ impacts of Sandy in 2012, when prolonged power outages prevented many gas stations from doing business.
“During Superstorm Sandy we experienced first-hand the crippling effects that gasoline disruptions have on recovery operations,” Cuomo said in a press release. He said the funding will “help prevent this scenario from repeating during future emergencies and ensuring our first responders have the resources to help those in need.”
For more details visit the NYSERDA website. See the authority’s summary of the grant program below.
2016_0614_gas_station_generator_grant
