Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Thursday he plans to seek $3.2 billion from the federal government for infrastructure hardening, following the extensive damage the state felt from Tropical Storm Sandy and other storms in recent years.
Malloy said the state will seek $620 million for the state and its municipalities for prevention and mitigation measures ($495 million for municipalities and $125 million for the state).
The additional $2.5 billion would go toward upgrading power transmission systems; replacing and hardening for current infrastructure; relocation of power lines underground and the establishment of micro-grids in selected high density areas.
“While our state was not impacted as severely as New York or New Jersey during Storm Sandy, we have seen substantial damage from three storms now that occurred in a little more than a year’s time,” Malloy said. “Changing weather patterns are a reality, and we must assume that the worst Mother Nature can throw at us hasn’t happened yet. This funding would allow us to invest in a few areas that would put us in a better position to handle the inevitable when it occurs.
