PG&E and Massachusetts invest millions in energy resilience projects
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PG&E will invest US$30 million in six new microgrid projects across California, while Massachusetts is awarding US$40 million to 36 battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects.
PG&E selected the microgrid projects through its Microgrid Incentive Programme, which prioritises communities vulnerable to power outages, particularly in rural, coastal, Tribal, and high wildfire risk areas. These microgrids will use solar panels, batteries, and other energy sources to keep essential facilities like hospitals and schools powered during grid failures, potentially for multiple days.
Three of the California projects in Lake County will test an innovative system combining solar power with pumped hydroelectric storage, using local water resources to store energy and provide firefighting capabilities. PG&E has now committed over US$73 million to community microgrid investments in the state. In Massachusetts, the Department of Energy Resources is funding BESS installations at schools, affordable housing, and critical infrastructure to improve grid reliability and lower energy costs.
The state is particularly focused on supporting environmental justice communities that face disproportionately long outages and high energy bills. Two projects will also test long-duration energy storage technologies, capable of providing power for 10 to 20 hours.
