ALBANY – New York is finally ready to accept applications from gasoline stations for grants to help with buying and installing backup generators, Newsday reports. The federal funds, amounting to $5.1 million, should cover 75% of the cost for retailers required to have backup generators at their stations.

The law, passed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, mandates that all gasoline stations within a half mile of a hurricane evacuation route or highway exit have a “transfer switch” in place that could be hooked up to a generator within 24 hours of a power outage. “Far too many gas stations had plenty of gas, but had no power to pump it out,” said state Sen. Charles Schumer, a co-sponsor of the bill.

“As we learn the lessons of the storm, we must develop a national, storm-resilient strategy to ensure that communities across New York are armed with innovative practices to protect New York from future disasters,” added state Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who co-sponsored the bill with Schumer.

Retailers have expressed their concerns over the cost of the required equipment, which often exceeds the grants. The equipment must be placed higher than the 500-year flood level. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant is funding the grants. New Jersey also offers its gasoline station grants to install generators but has no mandate to do so.