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The state announced today that $25 million in federal Hurricane Sandy aid has been set aside to help towns and counties upgrade energy facilities. Here, out-of-state crews work to replace a utility pole in Brick Township after the Oct. 29 storm.
(Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)
Towns, counties and other local government entities are receiving $25 million in federal Hurricane Sandy aid to develop alternative energy options that would allow essential facilities to stay open despite a power grid failure.
The funding comes from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and may be spent on a number of projects including: buying diesel, solar or natural-gas powered generators, purchasing dynamic inverters and storage for existing solar panels and increasing capacity by retrofitting existing fuel cells or combined heat and power.
Facilities like police and fire stations, shelters, emergency operations centers, and wastewater treatment plants are targeted by the grant program.
The money was awarded to 146 local government units. Newark received the largest amount of funding at $734,880. Among other large recipients were: Burlington County, $541,920; Elizabeth, $581,760; Middletown, $567,147; and Nutley, $556,240.