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State Provides Design, Engineering Expertise To Build Power System In Puerto Rico

New York state is providing design and engineering expertise to build a state-of-the-art power system in Puerto Rico, helping modernize and strengthen the island’s electric grid following the damage caused by Hurricane Maria.

New York state is helping Puerto Rico build its first automated digital substation, capable of processing up to 40 megawatts, or enough to process power for up to 40,000 homes. The automated digital substation will be built at the Monacillo Control Center in the San Juan-metro area and serve as a model for rebuilding the 17 substations that were flooded during Hurricane Maria. Additionally, New York Power Authority engineers are helping design a substation automation lab at Monacillo that will be used to train engineers and technicians on the latest substation automation technology.

“New York will not leave our fellow Americans behind and will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Puerto Rico on the path to recovery until the job is done,” Cuomo said. “The state-of-the-art technology and training expertise we are providing today will help the island rebuild stronger and make it more resilient in the face of future storms so that our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico don’t have to relive the nightmare of Hurricane Maria going forward.”

Additionally, NYPA is partnering with the PREPA to reconfigure the Culebra power plant to ensure that it will be able to provide electric service to both Culebra and Vieques in the event that the island systems experiences a power disruption from the mainland. NYPA will also help PREPA design two planned hybrid-microgrid projects on Culebra and Vieques that will incorporate solar panels, battery storage and emergency generators, providing needed storm resiliency and back-up power options.

NYPA is also coordinating with PREPA to harden and modernize the Humacao Industrial District, which was heavily damaged during the storm, with new substations and underground power lines, transforming the area into a model electric system for the seven other regions in Puerto Rico. With several large pharmaceutical companies operating in the district, it is essential to the Puerto Rico economy for the region to maintain its operations without power disruption.

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