Microgrids emerged as an energy reliability play after Superstorm Sandy caused massive power outages on the US East Coast in 2012. Today they are far more than that. Welcome to the age of the super service microgrid.
While businesses, institutions, communities and sometimes even homeowners still install microgrids to keep the power flowing during a storm, the technology is now used in a host of other ways. Today microgrids increasingly act as a way to stabilize power costs, generate revenue for their hosts, reduce emissions, secure local energy control, improve grid stability and serve the United States’ growing appetite for energy, demanded by AI development and electrification.
I explored this phenomenon with veteran energy writers Lisa Cohn and Peter Asmus in this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast. We traced the evolution of microgrids and detail what they’ve become.
Please listen to Microgrids Aren’t What They Used To Be
Host: Elisa Wood, founder of Energy Changemakers
Lisa Cohn: Co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and founder of CleanEnergyWriters.com.
Peter Asmus: President of Pathfinder’s Communications and Senior Advisor of Clara Advisory.
Key topics include:
- The origins of microgrids and how Superstorm Sandy propelled them into the spotlight.
- The critical role of microgrids in data center resilience.
- Innovative microgrid projects, including Blue Lake Rancheria, Cordova, and Kodiak Island.
- Why data centers are now leading microgrid adoption.
- The impact of tariffs and regulatory uncertainty on microgrid growth.
- The future of microgrids as a solution for energy resilience and decentralized power.
Whether you’re a seasoned energy professional or simply curious about how microgrids work, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the past, present, and future of this transformative technology.
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