The idea of the East Bronx Healthcare Microgrid was born out of special pressure on the crucial hospital system. During storms and power outages, the four hospitals must remain open not only to serve existing patients, but also those transferred from evacuated hospitals in Manhattan and other New York City boroughs. Further, the medical … [Read more...]
Solar is Good. Solar Microgrids are Better
August 8, 2016 By 2 Comments
It’s a surprise to many when they learn that their grid-connected solar panels can _not_ keep the lights on during a power outage. This was a lesson the Northeast US learned the hard way during Sandy, the 2012 superstorm that knocked out power to 8 million people. Two weeks or more without electricity, solar panel owners were venting to the … [Read more...]
Microgrid Project Profile: Protecting Coastal Communities in Hempstead, NY
July 25, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The Town of Hempstead, NY wants to build a microgrid project to ensure power supply for emergency services in two coastal communities that are vulnerable to storms. The $2.66 million microgrid would provide back-up generation in case of a utility outage in Point Lookout and Lido Beach. Severe coastal storms tend to knock out power to the … [Read more...]
Microgrid Project Profile: Huntington, NY Plans $22.9M Microgrid
July 20, 2016 By 1 Comment
Huntington, New York has proposed a $22.9 million microgrid project, designed to bring reliable energy to a hospital, wastewater treatment plant, emergency center and other buildings and homes in a busy, downtown area. Located on the north shore of Long Island, the town’s 200,000 residents face electric reliability problems that make Huntington … [Read more...]
Microgrid Moves: Kotch Exits NY Prize; IDEA Enters Microgrids
May 24, 2016 By 2 Comments
Micah Kotch received more than one ovation for a job well done at the Microgrid Knowledge conference last week, after announcing that he will be stepping down as director of NY Prize. Kotch has been the pivotal figure in the emerging microgrid market, shepherding the ambitious $40 million NY Prize through its first stage. The competition has … [Read more...]
Updated: New York Launches Next Stage of $40M NY Prize
April 20, 2016 By 7 Comments
New York has issued the second NY Prize request for proposals, this one offering $8 million from the $40 million pot designated to spur community microgrid development in the state. One of the most watched microgrid opportunities in North America, the NY Prize attracted 147 microgrid proposals in its first phase last year. From those proposals … [Read more...]
Creating a Grid-of-Grids: The Genius behind the NY Prize and its Real End Game
August 22, 2015 By 10 Comments
Not everyone sees the NY Prize as a big deal. After all, they say, the end stage of New York’s competition for $40 million is construction of about five community microgrids. That’s not a world-changing number for a technology likely to underlie a coming grid-of-grids – a nationwide interactive network of distributed energy that will … [Read more...]
Buffalo and Geneseo Issue Microgrid RFPs for NY Prize Feasibility Studies
July 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment
New York towns and cities are continuing to issue microgrid RFPs for help with feasibility studies being funded through the first NY Prize awards. In all, 83 cities and towns were recently awarded $100,000 each for community microgrid feasibility studies in the first phase of the NY Prize, a $40 million contest to encourage community … [Read more...]
NY Awards Funds to 83 Community Microgrids in First Stage of NY Prize
July 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment
New York today awarded 83 prizes of $100,000 each for microgrid feasibility studies in the first stage of the $40 million NY Prize program. The planned community microgrids are located throughout the state but are heavily centered in the demand-heavy southern tier that includes New York City, Long Island and MidHudson Valley. Spurred by … [Read more...]
