Community Voices

The Upstate Upgrade will deliver a Smarter, Stronger, Cleaner Energy Grid to support a more reliable, resilient electricity network for our customers. And, our 70+ initiatives are projected to bolster local economies by generating thousands of new, regional jobs and more than a billion dollars in additional economic growth, directly benefiting our Upstate customers and communities. These Community Voices are a snapshot of National Grid’s demonstrated and ongoing commitment to our customers and communities.

Community Voices

Upstate New York: Power Is the Name of the Game

Site Selection magazine, the leading publication in the economic development industry, took a closer look at the Upstate Upgrade through the lens of how the local business sector will benefit from hiring and spending on the project portfolio.

Read Site Selection magazine

Tug Hill Commission Briefed on Upstate Upgrade

National Grid staff met with the Tug Hill Commission and elected officials from Oswego County recently to provide a deep dive on the Upstate Upgrade and the company's next steps. The meeting received a full-page report in the commission's latest edition of the Tug Hill Times. (see page four)

Read the Tug Hill Times

Investing in Ticonderoga: Replacing 200 Transmission Towers and Upgrading over 40 Miles of Line

To build this infrastructure, we need people. We invest in our workforce through apprenticeship training and we invest in partnerships with local BOCES schools to show students this is an avenue for really enriching work that means a lot to society.

CBS6 Albany covered this transformative work taking place on Mt. Defiance.

Forgiving Winter Helps New York's Utilities Stay Ahead on Infrastructure

So the modern infrastructure, the new infrastructure that we are putting in here should be less susceptible to wind and other types of weather events...Should mean more and better reliability for our customers.

Everywhere You Look in Downtown Watertown, You See National Grid

Stand in Lachenauer Plaza, at the junction of Arsenal and Court Streets, and evidence of the company’s economic development programs are on display in the form of newly renovated buildings, rehabilitated properties, and a revitalized business corridor fitting of a small city on the rise.

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Delivering $1.5 million and Supporting a Franklinville Business

Our operations are energy intensive, and we need a reliable supplier who is as committed to the New York community as we are. We are grateful for National Grid’s support to expand the electrical infrastructure necessary to make this project a reality.” – Matt Wilkinson, Great Lakes Cheese

National Grid Makes $20,000 Donation to Support Boonville Park, Nonprofit Agency

Crews working on the southern section of the Smart Path Connect transmission corridor in Lewis and Oneida counties, a National Grid project, have used Boonville as their base of operation during construction. The contractor employees embarked on a grassroots fundraising campaign at the holidays to make a positive impact on the Boonville community and many of their firms provided matching donations to support their effort. National Grid added a corporate contribution to bring the total donation to more than $35,000.

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Powering Innovation in Scotia: Adirondack Beverage

In the last five years, Adirondack Beverage has grown from producing 25 million to 50 million cases of beverages per year, now producing 80,000 cans per day. National Grid partnered with the Scotia company to deliver power needed to energize new investments, with a $250,000 grant to help deliver on needed new capacity. CBS6 Albany covered this recent community impact story.

Supporting Continued Economic Growth in Genessee County

Between Edwards and Plug Power, and recent infrastructure upgrades thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State, STAMP has generated $1 billion of capital investment and National Grid has played a vital role in helping us attract projects that will benefit Genesee County and surrounding communities, including the Buffalo and Rochester regions, for generations to come, said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde.

National Grid Partners with Hudson Valley Community College to Increase Skilled Workforce to Meet State Energy Goals (Albany CBS 6)

To meet the State’s energy goals, National Grid must increase its electricity system by 2-3 times where it is today. To do that, the company needs skilled workers to design, navigate and build new transmission infrastructure. CBS 6’s Tom Eschen spoke to graduates of Hudson Valley Community College who are taking advantage of their partnership with National Grid to find new careers.

National Grid Energy Efficiency Incentives Support Albany Medical Center Through Reduced Energy Use, Financial Incentives

To pave the way to a more electric future, energy efficiency is one of National Grid’s key components of sustainability. These projects at Albany Medical Center created nearly $1 million in energy efficiency incentives saving nearly 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity and about 500,000 therms of natural gas.

National Grid Provides More Than $1 Million in Incentives to Gore Mountain for Energy Efficient Snow-Making Equipment

With the help of a National Grid incentive of more than $1.2 million, Gore Mountain has been able to install 136 energy efficient tower-mounted snow guns to produce more than 190 acre-feet of snow annually. The new equipment conserves more than 2.1 million kilowatt-hours a year, resulting in energy savings of more than $170,000 annually.

A Love Letter to Central New York

Central New York is like a best friend: reliable, valuable and supportive. It’s the unique type of place that brings the best out of its neighbors. That’s why National Grid is proud to partner with incredible organizations to support the region.

National Grid Economic Development Programs Assist Watertown Family YMCA

An aging building at the gateway to downtown Watertown will become a state-of-the-art YMCA aquatics and community center with support from National Grid. Located on Arsenal Street, the building that once housed a call center will become an 89,000-square-foot activity center with a pool, sport courts, wellness center and classrooms.

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National Grid and A Tiny Home for Good Turn a Vacant Lot Into Four Homes

Local dignitaries joined representatives from A Tiny Home for Good and National Grid to open four new tiny homes on Syracuse Southwest side. Built by A Tiny Home for Good and funded by National Grid’s Project C initiative, they will become the residence of four individuals who were facing homelessness.

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National Grid Provides Support for Wolfspeed Facility Construction

The opening of Wolfspeed’s semiconductor manufacturing plant in Marcy marked a long-awaited debut of the industry in the Mohawk Valley.

Local officials celebrated the opening of Wolfspeed recently, marking the long-anticipated debut of the semiconductor manufacturer at the Marcy Nanocenter. National Grid leaders were on hand to present the company with a $750,000 grant to support electric infrastructure costs to get the factory online.

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