Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that funding is now available for a new round of microgrid projects aimed at providing power for critical facilities – such as municipal government public safety and wastewater treatment facilities as well as grocery stores, hospitals, cell phone towers, and buildings serving as shelter – during times when the electric grid goes down.

“Microgrids are a key part of our effort to make our supply of electricity more resilient and to meet the needs of our residents when the power goes out,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. “Through this program we have provided financial support to important projects around the state – and with our new round of funding we are looking to encourage additional projects that will provide a real backstop to the inconveniences and public health and safety risks created when the light go out.”

Under Public Act 16-196, the Microgrid Program may provide matching funds and/or low interest loans for energy storage or Class I or Class III energy sources.  

Municipalities and others that are interested in receiving a grant or loan through the Microgrid Program can find the Round Four Application, application instructions and other relevant information at the DEEP Energy Filings Webpage.                     

Incentive Program

In Round Four of the Microgrid Program a qualifying project may receive a capital grant up to $4,000,000 from DEEP and a term loan of up to $2,000,000 from the Connecticut Green Bank. If the microgrid is located in a Priority Town and area that received assistance from the USDA Rural Community Energy Assistance Program, which was administered by DEEP and Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc., the applicant may qualify for up to an additional $2,000,000 capital grant from this Microgrid Program.

Funding may be used to pay design, engineering, electrical interconnection infrastructure, Class I and Class III generation and energy storage capital costs. Applicants are required to provide matching funds for Class I and Class III generation and energy storage capital costs.

DEEP will accept applications beginning on September 1, 2017 and ending on January 1, 2018.   Applicants may continue to send in applications through August 31, 2017 using the Round 3 application that was released in November 2015.

The Microgrid Program was developed in 2012 in response to the recommendation of the Governor’s Two Storm Panel after multiple storms resulted widespread outages of long duration.  DEEP conducted competitive solicitations in 2013 and 2014 and received applications on a rolling basis from 2015 to 2017. DEEP has issued $20.5 million in grants for ten projects. A list of proposals and projects funded can be found on the Microgrid Program website. To date six microgrids are operational and four more are under construction.

Questions about the Microgrid Program

Please direct any questions about the Microgrid Program to DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov.