National Grid applauds Sandy rebuilding recommendations

WALTHAM, Mass. – National Grid Tuesday praised the findings of a report calling for improvements to the electrical grid in light of Hurricane Sandy.

The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force Report, released Monday, stressed the need for better storm preparation and called for improvements to make the electrical grid less vulnerable to disasters.

According to the report’s executive summary, the $50 billion appropriated by Congress to support rebuilding in the areas damaged by Sandy is to be spent with “several outcomes in mind:

  • Aligning this funding with local rebuilding visions.
  • Cutting red tape and getting assistance to families, businesses and communities efficiently and effectively, with maximum accountability.
  • Coordinating the efforts of the federal, state and local governments and ensuring a region-wide approach to rebuilding.
  • Ensuring the region is rebuilt in a way that makes it more resilient – that is, better able to withstand future storms and other risks posed by a changing climate.”

The 24-memeber task force was created by President Barack Obama in an executive order signed on Dec. 7, 2012 and is chaired by Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan. Among members of an advisory group to the task force was Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee.

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“National Grid knows firsthand the increasing toll of extreme weather on the communities we serve, and this is why we support White House efforts to ensure the most vulnerable communities are better prepared for future events,” said Tom King, National Grid USA president, in a statement. “We realize that we must make the services we provide more resilient in order to provide the service our customers and communities deserve. We also believe that increased collaboration between business and government will help strengthen resilience to extreme weather for our communities, our economy and our infrastructure.”

In a release, National Grid highlighted the report’s emphasis on modernizing electric and gas networks and investing in protective measures.

To read the complete Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force report, click HERE.

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