Microgrid Could Keep Lights On in Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Local power plants may be the key to ensuring the power stays on during even the worst hurricanes, nor’easters and blizzards, according to the Two-Storm Panel that studied ways to improve emergency responses to extreme weather.

But even before Hurricane Irene in August and the snowy October nor’easter knocked out power to a record number of Connecticut households, Stamford’s Energy Improvement District advisory board was already studying ways to bring local power grids to the city’s downtown area.

Now, “There is a lot more urgency," said board Chairman Henry Ashforth.

“After those two storms showed how vulnerable the existing power grid is during severe weather, I don’t think anyone would argue that whatever we can do to keep power on in critical situations is worth considering,” Ashforth said. “A local power grid is something we have been exploring for some time now.”

His panel is studying how a power grid can be installed at the city’s Government Center, which he called a “vital building for communications that also serves as a cooling center during summer heat waves and shelter from the cold during winter storms.

"Cities need to function no matter what. Installing microgrids is a pioneering concept, and we are looking at the best way to go about it.”

But it is a difficult process because of the many state regulations. “I think the state is now more motivated to lighten up those restrictions and allow small microgrids to become part of the solution to keeping power on during weather disasters,” Ashforth said.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was mayor of Stamford when the Energy Improvement District was established in 2007, has issued a directive urging regulations to be loosened to make it easier to add local power grids at hospitals, senior centers and downtown areas.

“These grids could be fired up in emergencies to keep vital services and businesses open when downed trees cut off power,” said Malloy. Although the General Assembly has approved the expansion of microgrids in recent years, Malloy said he envisions small power plants being placed at important locations on a trial basis and used in cogeneration programs in larger cities.

Malloy urged developing a pilot program for microgrids in city centers and creating energy improvement districts across Connecticut similar to the one in Stamford.

Joseph McGee, co-chairman of the Two Storm Panel, said local power grids were among the most crucial recommendations in a report his committee presented to the governor last month.

“We had a lot of testimony from out-of-state experts who advised us to make our power grid more resilient so when storm hits, the power doesn’t go out,” said McGee, vice president of the Business Council of Fairfield County. “They said one way to do that is local microgrids powered by natural gas and fuel cells that can operate independent of the wired system.”

Although utility companies say they support building microgrids, upgrading the outdated power line infrastructure will be costly. Connecticut Light & Power Co. indicated it would cost $2.2 billion over 10 years to upgrade the system.

“Power grids are a good possibility,” said Mitch Gross, spokesman for CL&P. “The state has to decide what it wants to do and take the lead, and we will be ready to participate. We expect microgrids will play a role in upgrading our infrastructure. How much of a role is up to the state.”

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