UI Unveils Connecticut’s First Substation Coastal Flood Wall, Enhancing Electric Reliability and Climate Change Resiliency
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — September 17, 2024 — United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), today unveiled Connecticut’s first substation flood wall, the Congress Street Flood Wall, a groundbreaking $55 million infrastructure investment protecting Congress Street Substation in downtown Bridgeport from storm surge and sea level rise of the adjacent Pequonnock River. Only the third in the Northeast, the Congress Street Flood Wall protects the 11kV/ 13.8kV air-insulated coastal substation from rising floodwaters and severe storms exacerbated by climate change. The innovative project will ensure the reliability and resiliency of eight distribution circuits serving 35,000 customers in downtown Bridgeport, Environmental Justice communities, and Fairfield County as well as the greater ISO-New England region via the substation’s broader transmission network. The Congress Street Flood Wall Project marks the first of three flood walls planned by the company, with subsequent phases planned for Bridgeport’s Singer Substation and New Haven’s Grand & Mill Substation.
“As a leading sustainability company, we are proactively implementing strategies to adapt to and mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change,” said Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid. “By developing this state-of-the-art flood wall, we are pioneering a solution for electric utilities to enhance grid reliability and resiliency. Our commitment is to ensure that our infrastructure can withstand the test of time. As more customers and businesses turn to clean energy alternatives, it is crucial that our electrical grid remains stable and uncompromised by rising floodwaters or storm surges.”
The Congress Street Substation is located in a vulnerable coastal area, adjacent to the Pequonnock River and near Bridgeport Harbor/Long Island Sound. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 100-year coastal flood map, the substation is within the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) due to its elevation of 12.0 feet, placing it at risk as all critical equipment elevations are below the BFE (or FEMA 1% annual chance flood level). Over the past several years, the substation has been affected by coastal storms. During Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, rapidly rising water flooded the 115kV motor operators, necessitating the substation’s de-energization to avoid catastrophic failure. Similarly, during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, floodwaters encroached on the substation’s control room, again forcing a de-energization to prevent equipment failure and long-term recovery issues. By investing in the development and implementation of Connecticut’s first state-of-the-art substation flood wall, UI is undertaking a long-term solution to mitigate flood risk and prevent de-energization of substations during severe storms.
“We are proud to see the innovative infrastructure project reach completion, ensuring our customers have continuous access to safe, reliable service,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of UI. “The substation’s distribution network serves thousands of customers in downtown Bridgeport, including low-income communities, and supports myriad local businesses, from the small retail shops that are the backbone of our local economy to some of the largest manufacturers and industrial businesses in the state. For all of them and others, the Congress Street Flood Wall all but guarantees continuous electricity during storm surge and flooding, safeguarding our vulnerable customers and promoting economic growth. We are committed to making the necessary infrastructure investments to prevent electrical grid disruptions to homes, businesses, and offices, thereby keeping the local economy thriving.”
The design features a perimeter flood wall, rising eight feet in the air with driven steel sheet piles and incorporate special sliding and hinged gates. The steel sheet piles are driven forty feet underground, reaching a depth that ensures wall stability and limits floodwater seepage. The top of the steel sheet piles is installed to the Design Flood Elevation (DFE) level and extends above ground, acting as the perimeter flood wall to retain floodwaters. The exterior of the sheet pile walls is faced with cast-in-place concrete and capped with a continuous perimeter concrete beam to support security fencing and lighting. The design also includes a stormwater system to discharge runoff by gravity under normal conditions. During flood events, a system of flap and sluice gates prevents backflow into the substation and diverts runoff to a pump station. The waterfront location required the installation of a cofferdam and a trestle platform on the Pequonnock River to provide access for heavy machinery and equipment.
“From the moment the plans for the Congress Street Substation landed on my desk in 2018, I have worked full-steam to bring this essential project to life,” said Todd Berman, Director of Environmental & Permitting at Avangrid. “Throughout my career, I have recognized the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure to protect the integrity of the electrical transmission and distribution systems and how we adapt to rising sea levels. Given that a significant portion of UI’s service area is near the coastline, we proactively developed this innovative flood wall system to ensure our electrical infrastructure can withstand and recover from natural hazards caused by climate change. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this project and look forward to expanding it to other areas to ensure safe and effective operations for our customers and businesses.
“We are proud to support United Illuminating’s construction of the Congress Street Flood Wall and see first-hand the investments being made to protect our state’s electrical infrastructure in the wake of climate change,” said Matthew Pugliese, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development. “With over 600 miles of shoreline, it is essential that Connecticut proactively ensures its infrastructure is resilient, particularly in the economic engines of our state like downtown Bridgeport. Projects like the Congress Street Flood Wall significantly reduce property damage from floods, lower insurance costs, preserve infrastructure, and enhance the overall economic prosperity of our region. By mitigating the risks associated with flooding events, we make a vital investment in our long-term economic stability.”
The Congress Street Flood Wall Project marks the first phase of a comprehensive three-part flood mitigation initiative. The subsequent phases will address flood protection at Bridgeport’s Singer Substation and New Haven’s Grand & Mill Substation. For more information on these projects, visit our website at http://uifloodmitigationprograms.com/index.htm
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About UI: The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1899, UI operates approximately 3,600 miles of electric distribution lines and 138 miles of transmission lines. It serves approximately 341,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. UI received the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Recovery Award in 2019 and 2021. For more information, visit www.uinet.com.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $46 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens – in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.