DESIGN
State Ground Largely Not Fertile for Microgrids
Report reveals most U.S. states and territories are not prepared for the robust build-out of microgrids. Photo 29634968 © Phase4photography | Dreamstime.com
By Tom Zind, Freelance Writer
E
mploying proven design, microgrids are all but destined to be a part of the nation’s future electrical infrastructure. But gaps in supportive policy could act as a powerful brake on their development and hinder their path forward. Surveying the ground in all 50 states, Think Microgrid, a Boulder, Colo.-based microgrid advocacy organization, concludes that all but a handful are sorely lacking the regulatory and statutory framework needed to give powerful impetus to a timely build-out of a robust microgrid infrastructure. Its findings are summarized in a state scorecard report issued in early November, — one that paints a picture of an inspired energy 24
production and distribution concept in danger of being held hostage to footdragging, inertia, lack of planning, and entrenched interests. “Policy, not technology, remains the limiting factor for microgrid commercialization,” the report states. Rating each state on a set of five criteria deemed central to microgrid support and development, the report finds only four attaining a “B” grade: Hawaii, Texas, Colorado, and Connecticut. Fifteen states and Puerto Rico got a middling “C” grade. The rest were given a barely passing “D” grade. Whether it’s the current state of deployment; the presence of proactive policy; a commitment to energy resilience; the existence
of grid interface platforms; or a strong community equity approach to energy investments, most states don’t currently have anything close to the foundation needed to bring more microgrids into the picture on any kind of expedited timeline. And that may be slowly exacting a toll on microgrid deployment, which has been tailing off since 2020 (see the Figure on page 26). Describing the challenge, the report observes that “most states have not identified significant and meaningful strategies for incorporating microgrids into the physical grid and creating market designs necessary to support them. Microgrid policies that do exist — including incentives/programs, retail
February 2024 • www.ecmweb.com
2402ECM_24-27_Design.indd 24
2/13/2024 3:55:06 PM