by Charlotte Merrick
November 25, 2024
Categories: Workforce Development,
Our vision of a resilient, sustainable Navy Yard just received a major boost.
PIDC (on behalf of Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development) has been awarded $1.8 million through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP). The grant will support the full replacement of electric Substation 646 (SS646), located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard’s industrial core.
The new substation will ensure the protection of critical utility operations, delivering more reliable electricity to all those who work at and benefit from the Navy Yard. Pennsylvania Local Share Account funds of $250,000 will also help make this critical infrastructure replacement a reality.
In 2000, PIDC took control of the redevelopment of the Navy Yard and transformed it from a former military installation to the economic driver it is today. The U.S. Navy plays an integral role in this success and still has a major footprint, with more than 4,000 employees at the Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES), the Propeller Shop and Foundry, and the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility.
The Navy relies on power from the PIDC-owned electric grid, including the antiquated SS646. This WWII-era infrastructure is well beyond its useful life and a full replacement is necessary to bring reliable, safe power to military and PIDC operations.
“SS646 urgently needs to be modernized for operational safety, energy efficiency, and climate resilience measures,” Captain J.C. Thomas of the U.S. Navy said. “Delivery of uninterrupted electricity to U.S. Navy assets is essential to military security, mission readiness, and ongoing operations.”
In addition to mission-critical activities, SS646 supplies power to a publicly used cell phone tower, which provides cell service for 6,000 employees in the industrial core. In this way, this project will have an even broader reach to the Navy Yard community.
The Defense Community Infrastructure Program
The Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) is a federal program designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure to support a military installation. PIDC was previously awarded funds through DCIP in 2022 and continues to build a relationship with the Department of Defense through this transformative investment.
Part of a $100 million round of grant funding, DCIP’s $1.8 million award will support the $2.7 million project to entirely replace SS646, expected to be completed in 2026. The current switchgear will be replaced with a state-of-the-art S&C Vista switch, enhancing installation resiliency by upgrading equipment to current industry standard. PIDC’s utility operations and management contractor, Dominion Energy, will oversee this critical project to bring the Navy Yard’s infrastructure up-to-date.