(WNY News Now) – US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has unveiled a federal investment of $17,377,945 for the Jamestown Board Of Public Utilities (JBPU) through the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program. The funding, secured via the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, will support the development of a new microgrid system in Jamestown, aimed at improving electric infrastructure resilience during emergencies like snowstorms.
Jamestown, New York – In a significant development, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced a federal investment of $17,377,945 for the Jamestown Board Of Public Utilities (JBPU) to establish a cutting-edge microgrid system. This funding, sourced through the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law. The primary objective of this investment is to bolster Jamestown’s electric infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for vital public services, schools, hospitals, and more during emergency situations, particularly snowstorms.
Senator Schumer expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Get ready Jamestown, because our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is supercharging investment into the city’s energy resilience. Anyone in Western New York knows how snowstorms often pose a severe risk to our electric grids, knocking out power for days and putting lives at risk. This $17+ million federal boost will help Jamestown build a new microgrid so electricity can continue to flow for public services, schools, the city’s hospital and more during emergency situations. When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage, it was the win-win-win of life-saving investments in grid resilience – like those Jamestown has proposed – that simultaneously create good-paying jobs locally and promote affordable electricity that I had top of mind. I am proud to help deliver this major federal investment to power Jamestown’s electric future and supercharge the infrastructure Western NY needs to keep our communities safe in extreme weather.”
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist also lauded the funding, stating, “For over 100 years, Jamestown’s BPU has been at the forefront of providing resilient, reliable electricity to the residents of our city – even in the most extreme weather events. With this Bipartisan Infrastructure Law announcement and the creation of the Jamestown Community Microgrid Project through a $17 million investment, we will continue that tradition and have never been more equipped to limit outages and ensure that our public services continue running smoothly in times of crisis. Not only will the microgrid support our city and enable life-saving energy to be accessed during the times it’s needed most, it will be developed entirely by our local workforce. Our people are our greatest asset, and with the BPU’s commitment to hire 100% unionized labor, every dollar from this grant will remain within the city. We thank the Department of Energy, the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, and Senator Schumer for their continued belief and tireless advocacy for this investment in Jamestown.”
Furthermore, BPU General Manager David L. Leathers expressed gratitude, saying, “We are extremely grateful to the Department of Energy for this remarkable award. Federal funding of our Microgrid project allows us the opportunity to deliver reliable and resilient electricity in the case of a widespread outage, directly impacting our customers and our community. We look forward to working with the Department of Energy to finalize this work.”
The Jamestown Community Microgrid Project is designed to equip the city with the necessary resources to ensure a robust and resilient electricity grid within the downtown corridor and the broader community, especially during regional power outages. This initiative will be a crucial lifeline during the severe snowstorms that frequently affect the region, enhancing public and emergency services, supporting schools, senior and assisted-living housing facilities, homeless shelters, small businesses, electric vehicle charging stations, and the regional hospital in the City of Jamestown. The JBPU’s commitment to hiring 100% unionized labor, supported by IBEW Local Unions 106 and 459 and the Jamestown Professional Firefighters Association Local 137, benefits the local workforce. This $17,377,945 federal investment will be matched with a $5,792,648 local cost share. Senator Schumer emphasizes that this project is critical to providing resilient electricity to critical infrastructure and public services, mitigating power outages caused by extreme weather, including heavy lake-effect snowstorms.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the US Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, which administers a historic $10.5 billion investment through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program. The primary objective of this program is to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against the growing threats of extreme weather and climate change, ensuring that American communities have access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity whenever and wherever needed. The Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants, part of this program, support the modernization of the electric grid to reduce the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters. These grants will fund comprehensive transformational transmission and distribution technology solutions that can mitigate various hazards, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, extreme cold, storms, and other disruptive events affecting the power system. Projects generating the most significant community benefit in reducing the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events will receive priority.
The $17.4 million federal investment for the Jamestown Microgrid Project represents a significant step toward enhancing grid resilience and ensuring uninterrupted power supply during extreme weather events. The project’s utilizing the local workforce and unionized labor has the potential to stimulate economic growth in the region, making it a win-win proposition for the community.
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