$18 Million Awarded for Energy Upgrades & Microgrids in Massachusetts

Thirteen projects across the state of Massachusetts have been awarded $18 million to strengthen energy supplies.  Microgrids, battery storage, and heat are several of the kinds of projects that will be enhanced.

$3 million was granted to Northampton for a microgrid to serve three emergency centers at a hospital, a school, and the department of public works.  Battery storage and renewable energy will be integrated into the new microgrid.

A microgrid, among other things, is a way of transmitting electricity at a local level as a backup to the main grid.  (It’s basically what it sounds like — a small electricity grid.)  Of course, it’s prudent to have auxiliary power sources onsite at emergency centers because they may be at their highest level of need when there is a natural disaster such as a catastrophic storm when power lines will likely be compromised or destroyed.

Backup electricity can save lives by maintaining refrigeration for food and medicine while keeping heaters operating as well.  In other words, solar power, battery storage and microgrids are not just “nice” or “green” things to install and utilize, they can provide critical services when they are most needed.

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