March 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. unit of Britain's National

Grid said on Wednesday it would invest more than $4

billion to improve New York's infrastructure to meet growing

demand for more reliable and cleaner energy.

It would be the company's largest investment in the state's

electricity transmission system, most of which was built more

than a century ago.

The energy firm said the investment program named "Upstate

Upgrade", which includes more than 70 projects through 2030,

would generate jobs and more than $1 billion in additional

economic gains.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

On one hand, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence

are boosting power demand, and on the other, the U.S. power

grid, strained by storms, floods and heat waves, is struggling

to meet existing needs.

Infrastructural improvements to the grid would not only help

meet new demand, but also help New York reach its energy

transition targets.

The state needs to triple its clean energy supply to meet

its goal of an emission-free electric system by 2040.

BY THE NUMBERS

National Grid said it would construct or rebuild more than

1,000 miles of transmission line and 45 substations.

KEY QUOTES

"This six-year portfolio of work will transform the grid,

improve reliability and resilience and enable us to deliver

renewable energy to homes and businesses across New York,"

National Grid New York President Rudy Wynter said.

(Reporting by Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini

Ganguli)