These Places Would Go On Middletown's New Microgrid

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — We told you last month that Middletown plans on building a special electricity microgrid in the northern portion of the Township, to keep certain key facilities operational in the event of a large-scale power outage. Now today, Middletown released this map that shows which buildings will go on the grid.

Thirteen towns in New Jersey have currently applied before the powerful state Board of Public Utilities to build a microgrid, including Hoboken, Woodbridge and Montclair. But Middletown's proposed microgrid covers the biggest geographical area out of all 13. The diameter of the Middletown microgrid is roughly 3.5 miles, spanning from the NY Waterways Ferry Terminal to the Middletown Public Works and Fast Fill Natural Gas Station.

Facilities that will be put on the microgrid include:

• NWS Earle Waterfront Administrative Area
• Township of Middletown Sewage Authority (TOMSA)
• NY Waterways Ferry Terminal
• Middletown Public Works and CNG Fueling Facilities
• Middletown Municipal Complex - Town Hall and Police Headquarters
• Public Schools (Bayshore Middle School, Leonardo Elementary School, Bayview Elementary School)

• Monmouth County Highway Department
• Middletown Fire Stations 3, 4 and 7
• Monmouth County Bayshore Outfall Authority

If there was a large-scale power outage, such as what occurred during Sandy and what the nation is seeing right now in Texas, those facilities could theoretically stay operational because they'd be on their power grid. Jersey Central Power & Light would likely build a standalone sub-station within that zone.

“Middletown Township was among the most devastated by Superstorm Sandy. We, as a coastal town, know first-hand the critical importance of having an independent energy source and developing a means of minimizing power outages,” said Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger.

Middletown was recently awarded a $150,000 grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to do a study on the feasibility of building the grid. That study takes 12 months to complete.

Something unique about Middletown's microgrid is it would also supply electricity to the privately-owned and operated NY Waterways Ferry Terminal. Mayor Scharfenberger said the Township did that to help transport people back to New Jersey in the event of an emergency in Manhattan. Woodbridge Township put several private businesses on their grid, such as the Reo diner and a bagel shop, but in Middletown, the NY Waterways ferry terminal is the only private business on the grid.

Past Patch reporting: Middletown Gets $150K BPU Grant To Study Microgrid Feasibility