![]() This suggests that realizing multiple microgrid co-benefits is feasible, but that doing so marks a distinctly different approach from the current focus on wildfire resilience. In some areas, three goals are often aligned (those of lowering pollution, improving equity, and achieving incremental decarbonization). Modeling suitability under different secondary goals, in which various aims beyond resilience are weighted and scored, changes the distribution of the most suitable locations-with the percentage of individual places featuring high suitability scores ranging from 6% to 26% for different portfolios of benefits. As such, this result indicates that capacity building in these communities to develop the skills and resources necessary to undertake adaptation projects may be necessary to reach the Program’s equity goals. Historically marginalized communities are the most likely to lack the capital, technical/regulatory expertise, and institutional support required to pursue this funding. Results indicate that 70% of incorporated and census designated places within the three utilities’ service territories likely have at least one location that’s eligible for MIP funds. Other criteria speak to additional benefits that microgrids can provide, such as reducing pollution, arbitraging locational marginal electricity prices, and integrating renewable energy. These criteria reflect utility efforts to bolster resilience for key populations in areas vulnerable to disruption and include Tier 2 and 3 High Fire Threat Districts, locations of previous Public Safety Power Shutoffs, circuits with historically low levels of reliability, and disadvantaged / vulnerable populations. It identifies and ranks where microgrids could be most beneficial by seeding an ArcGIS suitability model with criteria chosen by the utilities and informed by the California Public Utilities Commission, California’s Office of Planning and Research, and MIP workshop participants. ![]() ![]() It then applies this tool in a study that locates areas potentially eligible for California’s new MIP and maps optimal sites for microgrids under MIP objectives as well as a range of other grid modernization goals. This work presents a new tool built to analyze microgrid suitability in the service territories of these utilities. This Program allocates the State’s three largest electric utilities $200 million to build community microgrids that support disadvantaged communities, specifically in fire and outage prone areas of their service territories. Provide a learning opportunity that will help discover future uses for microgrids and their components.The State of California is working to bolster local electricity resilience by accelerating the adoption of microgrids, notably through its Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP). Serve as a case study for how agriculture and electric utilities- two of North Carolina’s most important industries- can work together to promote sustainability and improve quality of life. The microgrid will also serve as a model for the integration of member-owned power generation that benefits the entire cooperative membership.Įxplore the potential benefits of using microgrids as a demand response resource. Improve the reliability of the electric system and farm operations by avoiding prolonged outages after storms or other events that interrupt grid power. Integrate local renewable energy resources, including solar and biogas, with energy storage to supplement traditional power sources, diversify the electric grid and provide environmental benefits. The purpose of the Butler Farms Microgrid: During outages, it can also operate in island mode to power Butler Farms and surrounding homes. This innovative project brings together resources owned by the farm with components owned by NCEMC to establish a unique partnership that benefits rural North Carolina by leveraging opportunities from two important industries- agribusiness and energy.ĭuring normal conditions, the microgrid will connect to South River EMC’s distribution system to supplement and diversify traditional power resources. South River Electric Membership Corporation and its power supplier, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, are partnering with Butler Farms, a sustainability-focused hog farm in Lillington to develop a local microgrid. Microgrids typically remain connected to the main grid but can also operate independently. A microgrid is an electric system that combines local energy resources and control technologies to provide power to a defined area.
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