New Paltz Microgrid brief v7.2 - Microgrid Institute - … Word - New Paltz Microgrid brief...

NewPaltzMicrogridTheNewYorkStateEnergyResearchandDevelopmentAuthority(NYSERDA)selectedtheNewPaltzMicrogridProjectforStageIfundingintheNYPrizeCommunityGridcompetition.Theprojectisapublic-privatecollaborationwiththeTownandVillageofNewPaltz,withsupportfromlocalstakeholdersincluding:SUNYatNewPaltz,NewPaltzCentralSchoolDistrict,andtheNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(Region#3).InadditiontoMicrogridInstitute,theprojectteamincludestechnologypartnersHitachiConsulting,GreenEnergyCorp.(GEC),andTeMixInc.,withlocalstakeholderstheTownandVillageofNewPaltz,StateUniversityofNewYork(SUNY)atNewPaltz,theNewPaltzCentralSchoolDistrict,CentralHudsonGas&Electric,andNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation-Region3Office.

WhyaMicrogrid?AmicrogridwouldstrengthentheNewPaltzcommunitybyensuringreliableelectricitysuppliesforcriticalfacilitiesduringpoweroutages.HurricaneIrene,SuperstormSandy,andtheOctober2011WinterStorminflictedseriousdamageanddisruptiontothecommunity,displacingresidentsandcausingwidespreadutilityoutages.Additionally,theNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationhasidentifiedNewPaltzasanEnvironmentalJusticeArea,andthecommunityiscommittedtoreducingitsclimatefootprintandfossilenergyuse.AmicrogridwouldhelpNewPaltzimproveitsresilienceandenergyself-reliance,whilesupportinglocalcleanenergydevelopment.

NewPaltzMicrogridObjectives 1. Ensureresilientenergysuppliesforfacilitiesandservicescriticaltothecommunity’shealth,safety,andeconomicvitality,minimizingdisruptionscausedbyweathereventsandreliabilityissues.2. Increasethecommunity’senergyefficiencyandreduceitsenvironmentalfootprint.3. Optimizetheuseoflocalcleanenergyresources–especiallysolarandbiomass.TheProjectTeamwillassessthefeasibilityofintegrating25to30percentrenewableresourcesintothemicrogrid.4. Modernizelocalgridinfrastructuretocreateaplatformforongoingdevelopmentofinnovativeandcompetitiveenergyassetsandresources.

TimelineNYSERDANYPrizeCommunityGridCompetition:StageI(feasibilitystudy)-July2015-March2016StageII(engineering)–April2016-Dec.2017StageIII(deployment)–April2018-Sept.2019

TheNewPaltzMicrogridisenvisionedtoprovideresilientcleanenergyservicesformultiple“nodes”orclustersoffacilitiescriticaltothehealth,safety,andvitalityofthecommunity.

NewPaltzMicrogridAProsumerPlatformTheNewPaltzMicrogridprojectproposesapublic-privatepartnership(P3)tosupporttheongoingdevelopmentofresilient,cleanenergyserviceoptionsforcustomersintheNewPaltzcommunity.ThisP3’smissionwouldbetostrengthenlocalresiliency,increaseuseoflocalrenewableenergy,decreaserelianceonfossilfuels,andhelpNewPaltzenergycustomerssavemoneyandreducegreenhousegasemissions.

TheP3alsowouldcreateaplatformforcustomerstobecomeprosumers–e.g.,consumerswhoarealsoproducers.Thisplatformisbasedonathree-tierenergyservicesmodel.

APublic-PrivatePartnershipTheNewPaltzMicrogridisconceivedasapublic-privatepartnership(P3)involvingpublicentitiesinNewPaltz,privatedevelopers,andthird-partyinvestors.ThisP3enterprisewouldfocusonachievingcommunitygoalsforresilience,sustainability,andenergycostsavings.

TheP3businessstructureallowsaccesstoawiderangeoffinancingsources,resultinginlowercapitalcosts–andlowercostsforcustomers.

ForMoreInformation:MichaelBurr,DirectorPhone:(320)632-5342mtburr@microgridinstitute.org