$100,000 Microgrid Grant for New Rochelle

New Rochelle is among the local municipalities in the lower Hudson Valley awarded about $100,000 to support innovative microgrid projects.

The NY Prize Microgrid Competition is a first-in-the nation $40 million competition to help communities in New York State create microgrids. More than 130 proposals were submitted statewide.

As one of 23 communities in the Mid-Hudson region selected as a Stage 1 winner, the city will receive $100,000 to complete a feasibility assessment for the creation of a standalone energy system that can operate independently in the event of a power outage.

Now, the awarded communities will study the feasibility of installing a community microgrid—which is a standalone energy system that can operate independently of the main grid in the event of a power outage. Such systems would integrate renewable power with other advanced energy technologies to create a cleaner, more affordable and more resilient localized energy grid for a limited number of users.

New Rochelle was the first community in Westchester to submit an application for the program, continuing the City’s leadership role in sustainable action and building on the principles established in New Rochelle’s Sustainability Plan, GreeNR.

“We are excited about this initiative,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson on the city’s website. “A local microgrid would help us to improve the reliability and resilience of electric service to critical facilities, while also giving a boost to economic development goals.”

The city has retained Booz Allen Hamilton, a century-old technology and consulting firm with experience in commercial and military microgrids, New Rochelle has also worked with Sustainable Westchester, which is encouraging microgrid development on a regional basis. Once the study is completed, New Rochelle can compete for further support from NY Prize or pursue the distributed energy resource opportunities uncovered in their feasibility study.