The U.S. Department of Energy on Dec. 20 announced a $28.7 million investment for a project in the public power community of Tallahassee, Fla., that calls for the deployment of a utility-scale battery energy storage system to provide backup power to facilities providing critical services, like nursing homes and community centers.
The BESS is also expected to provide an estimated overall annual fuel cost savings of $160,000 that will benefit municipal utility customers.
The project will be supported by a Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program Grid Resilience Grant.
“Like many communities across the country, Tallahassee, Florida experiences extreme weather events, and its existing substation is overburdened,” DOE said.
In response to these challenges, the City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility was selected for a $28.7 million GRIP grant to implement a BESS at the Birmingham Street Substation to provide backup power during disruptive events and ensure continued operation of four facilities that provide essential services to the community: Lawrence-Gregory Community Center; Lincoln Center; Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and Tallahassee Senior Center.
The utility will engage the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, local universities, community-based organizations, and residents, to develop and implement a Community Benefits Agreement.
In further service of the local economy, the project will issue 30 Clean Energy Trades certificates to trainees, among other workforce opportunities, DOE noted.
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the GRIP program is investing $10.5 billion in communities across the country to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather.
A full list of GRIP projects, including awards finalized to date, is available here.
Award negotiations will begin immediately upon selection. DOE expects to launch a third round of GRIP funding in 2025.
