Act locally
Many other organizations are already focused on the state and Federal levels.
We are focused on helping you protect your own community.
We believe local leaders tend to be more responsive to their citizens than state and federal officials, who have been ineffective on this issue for years.
Compared to state and Federal officials, local leaders:
Aren’t insulated from local constituents.
Often have as much, if not more, power over local decisions.
They can have a direct self-interest in protecting their own communities.
Microgrid investments can be and are typically managed at the local level.
Why focus on community microgrids?
We prioritize protecting community microgrids because unlike the “macro grid:”
Many are being built, with many more to come.
If they are not protected, they are seen as vulnerable
The "macro grid" is not well-protected to survive a massive solar storm, EMP attack, cyber or physical attacks, or grid mismanagement.
New microgrids can be protected more quickly and inexpensively than the “macro grid”
They are Inherently local:
As small as individual buildings;
Or building clusters and campuses (e.g. military bases, hospitals, emergency services, universities)
Or small communities
Essential services (e.g. gas pumping stations)
Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project—Who We Are
Their design is approved by local public officials, who can be swayed by local political activism
Well-protected microgrids:
Can help balance peak demand and supply when imported power isn’t available or is extremely expensive
(insert links, e.g. Texas, Europe)
Not only protect the communities they support,
Using grid-forming inverters can help restore power to the larger grid by providing “black-start” power.
Focus on specifying protection measures at the design stage rather than after the fact because it will be ten times less costly
Adds 5% to the cost when planned in advance
Can cost 50% of project cost when retrofitted