[DannyTN]

"Five million for every plant? If you could build a plant for $5 million, every utility in the world would be knocking at your doorstep. "

Agreed, but we aren't talking about having to completely rebuild plants are we? I don't think we are even talking about replacement lines. I think they are talking about additional lines and some new control equipment.

How much equipment is required to control the grid at each plant and prevent one line going down from taking them all down? My guess is it's a couple of relays, maybe a new computerized control system for each plant. But it sounds like they already have invested in such control systems, and they simply need to make sure everybody is up to the current state of the art.

[Alberta's Child]

The problem in the Northeast is a combination of aging transmission infrastructure and political pressure to close plants near major cities. With the closing of the Shoreham nuclear plant in Long Island a few years ago, coupled with a political climate in which every proposed gas main through the area is met with stiff resistance, the New York City region is drawing its power from further and further away.