A Platte River Power Authority and Estes Park, Colo., microgrid project and a microgrid project in Springfield, Colo., recently received awards that were detailed by Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs.
Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs announced over $2 million in recent awards funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program and state funds through the Microgrids for Community Resilience Program.
The announcement represents the first projects funded since the DOE formally awarded the Colorado Energy Office and the Department of Local Affairs $17.2 million for the first two years of a five-year funding program.
This award will also support a study on the potential role of microgrids in advancing state energy goals, such as increasing the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting the state’s transition to clean energy and beneficial electrification.
The Microgrids for Community Resilience (MCR) Grant Program, established by House Bill 22-1013, is designed to enhance community resilience against electric grid disruptions through the development of microgrids.
The Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Local Government awarded $2,109,641 across six projects for Microgrids for Community Resilience Program grants in Round 2.
The Town of Springfield Microgrid Planning Project was awarded $32,160 to explore backup power and microgrid opportunities with support from the Arkansas River Power Authority.
The total estimated cost of the project is $48,000, the Arkansas River Power Authority said in a news release. The Authority is partnering with Springfield on the project and provided matching funds of $15,840.
Currently Springfield is served by one transmission line that is subject to the extreme weather events that occur in and around Southeast Colorado. This project will evaluate the options for providing a backup service for the town.
“This is viewed as the first step towards constructing a microgrid or backup power supply that will increase the resiliency and reliability of electric service to all of Springfield,” the news release said.
This includes service to its critical facilities such as its medical facilities, nursing home, and emergency services. The Town of Springfield is a member of the Arkansas River Power Authority which is a Joint Action Agency that provides wholesale electricity to its member communities of Holly, La Junta, Lamar, Las Animas, Springfield and Trinidad, Colorado.
A Platte River Power Authority and Estes Park Storage Microgrid Project was awarded $350,000 to support a 5 MW/ 20 MWh battery installation in Estes Park, Colo., serving critical facilities like the Estes Valley Protection District and Estes Park Hospital.
