Gas Stations Eligible for $7M Grant To Keep Pumping in Power Outages

Nearly a year after Hurricane Sandy crippled the region’s fuel supply, state officials announced a $7 million federal grant to give more than 250 gas stations access to backup emergency power.

Specific service stations along key thoroughfares, including Route 80, 4 and 17 will be eligible for the voluntary program, Gov. Chris Christie’s office announced Monday.

“Eligible station owners will use the funds to purchase generators or permanent connection points for mobile generators, also known as ‘quick connects,” the governor’s office said. “Stations were targeted for the program based on factors including proximity to evacuation routes and fuel storage capacity.”

Hurricane Sandy knocked out power across Bergen County and led to long fuel lines in the area. In Teaneck, officials initially proposed mandating gas stations install generators, but later reworked the proposal to include only specialized housing complexes. 

The state’s Office of Homeland Security issued the following details on the grant program’s two tiers:

More than 200 retail stations along targeted routes with fuel storage capacity between 30,000 gallons and 35,000 gallons are eligible for up to $15,000 to purchase quick connect technology or offset a portion of the cost of purchasing a generator.

More than 50 retail stations along targeted routes with fuel storage capacity greater than 35,000 gallons are eligible for up to $65,000 in funding toward the purchase and installation of an onsite generator, which will cover in most instances the full cost of equipment and installation.

A full list of eligible gas stations is available here. Full details on the program is posted at the governor's office website.