New Paltz Microgrid completes NY Prize Stage I
Microgrid Institute team begins Stage II development
:: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ::
Aug. 24, 2016
New Paltz, N.Y.: The final summary report on the New Paltz Community Microgrid feasibility assessment has been accepted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), signaling the successful completion of its NY Prize Stage I project. The project’s final Stage I report is available at the NYSERDA website here: http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/NYPrize/files/studies/46-Town-of-New-Paltz.pdf
In August 2015, NYSERDA selected a public-private partnership led by Burr Energy LLC (dba Microgrid Institute) to assess the feasibility of developing a community microgrid in New Paltz. The project team includes the Town and Village of New Paltz, State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, the New Paltz Central School District, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and utility partner Central Hudson Gas & Electric. Microgrid Institute led the Stage I study as prime contractor and principal investigator, with technical partners Hitachi Consulting, Green Energy Corp., and TeMIX Inc.
NYSERDA provided $100,000 for the NY Prize Stage I project. NY Prize is a first-in-the nation $40 million competition to help communities create microgrids – standalone energy systems that can operate independently in the event of a power outage. Microgrids support a new generation of community-based power under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy and contribute to the Clean Energy Standard to have 50 percent of the State’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. In all, NYSERDA selected 83 community projects to receive feasibility assessment grants in the NY Prize Community Grid competition.
In consultation with the New Paltz Community, the Microgrid Institute team identified six strategic goals for the proposed microgrid:
1. Empower the community to implement its own energy strategy, as part of integrated community planning and development;
2. Improve the resiliency of services that are critical to the health, safety, and vitality of the community;
3. Increase the community’s use of local resilient renewable energy assets, and facilitate ongoing local renewable energy investment;
4. Reduce the community’s fossil energy consumption and related environmental footprint, and facilitate ongoing reductions;
5. Increase opportunities for local ownership of energy resources, keeping more energy dollars in the New Paltz economy; and
6. Support future economic development and growth by modernizing community energy infrastructure.
The NY Prize Stage I study assessed the potential for a microgrid to serve these six goals by deploying electricity generation and storage systems, as well as efficiency, conservation, and smart load-control technologies, in multiple zones throughout the community. The proposed microgrid would provide clean, resilient power for numerous vital community assets, including public shelters, emergency response and healthcare facilities, municipal water and wastewater systems, and commercial food stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. It also would establish a public-private partnership to implement the microgrid and facilitate integrated planning and development of community energy and resiliency assets.
“Microgrids provide new local sources of electricity that can support the electric grid and provide power to communities in the event of power outages,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “New York is at the forefront of microgrid research and development, and microgrids will be important to accomplishing New York State’s aggressive energy goals under the leadership of Governor Cuomo.”
“A multi-zone microgrid will substantially improve the New Paltz community’s ability to withstand the effects of long-duration power outages,” stated Neil Bettez, New Paltz Town Supervisor. “This study verified that not only would the proposed microgrid work technically, it would bring economic and environmental benefits – especially as a platform for community energy development.”
Village of New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers added, “This collaborative assessment showed what a partnership of public and private stakeholders can accomplish when they work together. An integrated approach to planning and development will allow the New Paltz community to improve its resilience against outages while also reducing our climate footprint and making better use of local renewable energy resources. We are excited to move forward, with help from Microgrid Institute and NYSERDA.”
The NY Prize study concluded that the proposed microgrid would be feasible in terms of technical design, economics, and legal structure. Additionally, NYSERDA performed an independent benefit-cost analysis, indicating that in a conservative scenario, the proposed microgrid would begin producing positive economic benefits to the community when New Paltz experienced outages exceeding only 2.4 hours per year.
Michael Burr, Director, Microgrid Institute, stated, “New Paltz is similar to many communities that are striving to improve their local resilience and self-reliance, while also promoting sustainable economic development. The NY Prize Stage I assessment showed that advanced microgrid technologies can provide resilient, cost-effective, clean energy for critical community assets, while also creating a platform for integrated planning, investment, and innovation. We look forward to working with the Town and Village of New Paltz and other local stakeholders to develop this platform and support the community’s energy and sustainability goals.”
-30-
CONTACT:
Peter Douglass, Microgrid Institute
www.microgridinstitute.org
+1.320.493.1923 / [email protected]
New Paltz, N.Y.: The final summary report on the New Paltz Community Microgrid feasibility assessment has been accepted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), signaling the successful completion of its NY Prize Stage I project. The project’s final Stage I report is available at the NYSERDA website here: http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/NYPrize/files/studies/46-Town-of-New-Paltz.pdf
In August 2015, NYSERDA selected a public-private partnership led by Burr Energy LLC (dba Microgrid Institute) to assess the feasibility of developing a community microgrid in New Paltz. The project team includes the Town and Village of New Paltz, State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, the New Paltz Central School District, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and utility partner Central Hudson Gas & Electric. Microgrid Institute led the Stage I study as prime contractor and principal investigator, with technical partners Hitachi Consulting, Green Energy Corp., and TeMIX Inc.
NYSERDA provided $100,000 for the NY Prize Stage I project. NY Prize is a first-in-the nation $40 million competition to help communities create microgrids – standalone energy systems that can operate independently in the event of a power outage. Microgrids support a new generation of community-based power under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy and contribute to the Clean Energy Standard to have 50 percent of the State’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. In all, NYSERDA selected 83 community projects to receive feasibility assessment grants in the NY Prize Community Grid competition.
In consultation with the New Paltz Community, the Microgrid Institute team identified six strategic goals for the proposed microgrid:
1. Empower the community to implement its own energy strategy, as part of integrated community planning and development;
2. Improve the resiliency of services that are critical to the health, safety, and vitality of the community;
3. Increase the community’s use of local resilient renewable energy assets, and facilitate ongoing local renewable energy investment;
4. Reduce the community’s fossil energy consumption and related environmental footprint, and facilitate ongoing reductions;
5. Increase opportunities for local ownership of energy resources, keeping more energy dollars in the New Paltz economy; and
6. Support future economic development and growth by modernizing community energy infrastructure.
The NY Prize Stage I study assessed the potential for a microgrid to serve these six goals by deploying electricity generation and storage systems, as well as efficiency, conservation, and smart load-control technologies, in multiple zones throughout the community. The proposed microgrid would provide clean, resilient power for numerous vital community assets, including public shelters, emergency response and healthcare facilities, municipal water and wastewater systems, and commercial food stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. It also would establish a public-private partnership to implement the microgrid and facilitate integrated planning and development of community energy and resiliency assets.
“Microgrids provide new local sources of electricity that can support the electric grid and provide power to communities in the event of power outages,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “New York is at the forefront of microgrid research and development, and microgrids will be important to accomplishing New York State’s aggressive energy goals under the leadership of Governor Cuomo.”
“A multi-zone microgrid will substantially improve the New Paltz community’s ability to withstand the effects of long-duration power outages,” stated Neil Bettez, New Paltz Town Supervisor. “This study verified that not only would the proposed microgrid work technically, it would bring economic and environmental benefits – especially as a platform for community energy development.”
Village of New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers added, “This collaborative assessment showed what a partnership of public and private stakeholders can accomplish when they work together. An integrated approach to planning and development will allow the New Paltz community to improve its resilience against outages while also reducing our climate footprint and making better use of local renewable energy resources. We are excited to move forward, with help from Microgrid Institute and NYSERDA.”
The NY Prize study concluded that the proposed microgrid would be feasible in terms of technical design, economics, and legal structure. Additionally, NYSERDA performed an independent benefit-cost analysis, indicating that in a conservative scenario, the proposed microgrid would begin producing positive economic benefits to the community when New Paltz experienced outages exceeding only 2.4 hours per year.
Michael Burr, Director, Microgrid Institute, stated, “New Paltz is similar to many communities that are striving to improve their local resilience and self-reliance, while also promoting sustainable economic development. The NY Prize Stage I assessment showed that advanced microgrid technologies can provide resilient, cost-effective, clean energy for critical community assets, while also creating a platform for integrated planning, investment, and innovation. We look forward to working with the Town and Village of New Paltz and other local stakeholders to develop this platform and support the community’s energy and sustainability goals.”
-30-
CONTACT:
Peter Douglass, Microgrid Institute
www.microgridinstitute.org
+1.320.493.1923 / [email protected]