Community Corner

What Was That Noise? National Grid Explains

Friday night noise around 1 a.m. awoke a few local residents.

Lots of locals awoke around 1 a.m. Friday night to hear a strange loud noise coming from around the Port Jefferson LIPA plant.

And while the noise did indeed come from the plant, a spokeswoman for National Grid – which operates the plant on behalf of LIPA – noted on Monday that the noise wasn't quite "equipment testing" as police reported, and not necessarily something that happens in the spring, as some readers on Facebook had speculated.

Rather, as National Grid employees were shutting down one of the two units at the plant – which occurs as necessary in expectation of a reduced amount of electric to be used the following day – a release valve gave off a tremendous amount of steam pressure, causing the noise to wake a few people from their slumber.

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"It's pretty standard," said Wendy Ladd, spokeswoman for National Griad, of the routine itself. "If we don't expect a certain amount of megawatts to be used, we shut down the unit, since it will not be in use the following day."

A few readers on Facebook noted the noise, with some aware that pressure release was the cause, and others left shaking their heads.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I heard some really freaky noises around that time," wrote Jenn Marshall.

Luckily, Ladd said, "it wasn't a problem."

Did you hear the noise? What did you think it was?


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