The Long Island Power Authority (New York State) has presented the Town of Huntington with a grant for research of the Long Island Sound. The grant is being provided in conjunction with replacement of the electric transmission cable system that links Northport in the Town of Huntington with Norwalk in southwestern Connecticut.

The nearly $100 million Northport-to-Norwalk cable project is a joint venture between LIPA and Connecticut Light & Power. It will replace seven old, fluid insulated lines with three state-of-the-art solid core cables that can transmit 300 MW of electricity between Long Island and Connecticut. The new cables will help strengthen the reliability of the electric grid on both sides of the Sound.

While replacing the Northport to Norwalk cables had been under discussion for several years, the replacement process became part of the agreement negotiated between New York and Connecticut that allowed the 330MW Cross-Sound cable between Shoreham and New Haven to begin full commercial operation in June, 2004. For its part, the Town of Huntington received the $50,000 grant from LIPA for Long Island Sound research purposes.

“Input from the Town of Huntington has been essential throughout the development of this important project, which will improve electric system reliability and replace old leaky power lines with state-of-the-art solid cables to help clean up the Long Island Sound,” said LIPA CEO Richard Kessel. “I am pleased to support the Town of Huntington’s efforts to research other ways that the Sound can be protected.”

According to Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone, the funds will be used to continue the Town's efforts in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency's 2002 directive requiring operators of small municipal separate storm sewer systems to develop practices to control polluted storm water runoff. This will involve sampling major outfall pipes to determine which are the most significant contributors of coliform.

"Having the funds available for research purposes presents us with a unique opportunity,” said Supervisor Petrone. “Since high coliform counts can result in closures of public beaches and restrictions on shell fishing, it can have very negative social and economic impacts on an area like Huntington. This study will complement our ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Huntington Harbor while providing valuable information that will assist us in the decision-making process for years to come.”

The Northport-to-Norwalk cable system began commercial operations in 1969. In recent years, it has had a high outage rate and been punctured by boat anchors that caused leaks of the non-toxic dielectric fluid that helps to cool the cable.

Work on the project began this month when the cables were taken out of service. The removal of the old cables is scheduled to begin in October. Installation and testing of the new cables is expected to be completed by the end of next year.