Woodbridge Mulls Installing Microgrid For Certain Buildings In Town

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — On Monday, Woodbridge Township was approved by the state Board of Public Utilities to begin a feasibility study to install an electricity microgrid. Woodbridge has identified certain structures in town it deems critical, and those will be put on the microgrid if it is one day installed. The list of 13 critical structures includes things like the police station, public schools and even the privately-owned Raceway gas station, Reo diner, a pharmacy and the Knot Just Bagels shop.

With the microgrid, if a large-scale, multi-day power outage occurred — such as what occurred during Superstorm Sandy — these facilities would still have electricity. Woodbridge received a $150,000 grant from the BPU to do the study.

According to Woodbridge’s application to the BPU, the total list of the 13 critical facilities includes:

• Woodbridge Town Hall/Police building
• Woodbridge Fire Department building
• Stern Tower Senior Living
• Adams Tower Senior Living
• Finn Tower Senior Living
• Woodbridge Pump Station
• Ross Street Elementary School
• Mawbey Street Elementary School
• Woodbridge Middle School
• Raceway Gas Station
• The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy
• Knot Just Bagels
• Reo Diner

How were certain private businesses chosen for the microgrid?

Raceway gas station was included due to its centralized location to the rest of the selected microgrid buildings, said Woodbridge spokesman John Hagerty.

"We surveyed local food service businesses that were central to the municipal, fire department and school buildings selected for the microgrid feasibility," Hagerty said. "The requirements included the ability to provide service 24/7 during a time of emergency and their location. The Reo and Knot Just Bagels are in the centralized microgrid area and committed to the 24/7 food service requirement. If/when the microgrid is approved, there may be an expansion to include other businesses and locations."

Woodbridge's proposed microgrid would include the use of fuel cells and solar energy. However, the purpose of the study is to determine the most efficient power source for the grid, should it eventually get built. And don't expect anything soon: The study itself takes 12 months to complete.

"The BPU provided Woodbridge with a $150,000 grant to conduct the feasibility for the microgrid," said Hagerty. "It's too early in the process to say if/when we will move on construction of a microgrid. At this time, there is no cost to Woodbridge; the feasibility study will make the determination regarding future costs, etc."

The trend of municipalities installing microgrids across New Jersey is growing: Woodbridge is one of 13 towns approved by the BPU for funding to do feasibility studies. The Board approved funding for applications submitted by Atlantic City, Camden County, Cape May County MUA, Galloway Township, Highland Park, Hoboken, Hudson County, Middletown Township, Montclair Township, Neptune Township, Paterson and Woodbridge Township.

“These grid independent energy sources will improve energy resiliency and reliability keeping critical services operational during blackouts," said Richard S. Mroz President of the NJBPU.

Related: Middletown Gets $150K BPU Grant To Study Microgrid Feasibility