Officials: $37M will upgrade electricity grid

ALBANY — New York officials say a $37 million grant from the federal Department of Energy will help upgrade the state’s electricity grid.

The money will help fund a $75 million “smart grid” initiative to improve the efficiency of New York’s electricity delivery system.

New York is adding units to measure and report system conditions that will help avoid blackouts. The grant also will help fund the installation of capacitor banks around the state to reduce the amount of electricity lost over long distances.