PG&E Advancing $43 Million for Nine New Community Microgrids in Northern California
PG&E (PCG) has announced plans to award up to $43 million in Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) grant funding for nine new community microgrids across Northern and Central California. The initiative, part of a $200 million statewide program, will support disadvantaged communities vulnerable to power outages.
The selected projects span across Humboldt County (4 projects), Lake County (3 projects), and Marin County (2 projects), with four serving tribal communities. These microgrids will provide resilience for nearly 9,000 customers, including 3,600 with Access and Functional Needs. Individual project awards range from $1-6 million.
The program received 50 initial inquiries, with 22 advancing to submit applications after receiving $25,000 development grants. Projects were selected based on customer attributes, resilience benefits, and environmental impact. The microgrids will utilize clean energy solutions including solar, battery storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, and biomass.
PG&E (PCG) ha annunciato piani per assegnare fino a 43 milioni di dollari in finanziamenti a fondo perduto per il Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) per nove nuove microreti comunitarie in tutta la California settentrionale e centrale. L'iniziativa, parte di un programma statale da 200 milioni di dollari, sosterrà le comunità svantaggiate vulnerabili ai blackout.
I progetti selezionati si estendono nella contea di Humboldt (4 progetti), nella contea di Lake (3 progetti) e nella contea di Marin (2 progetti), con quattro che servono comunità tribali. Queste microreti forniranno resilienza a quasi 9.000 clienti, di cui 3.600 con esigenze di accesso e funzionali. I premi per i singoli progetti variano da 1 a 6 milioni di dollari.
Il programma ha ricevuto 50 richieste iniziali, di cui 22 hanno proseguito per presentare domande dopo aver ricevuto sovvenzioni per lo sviluppo di 25.000 dollari. I progetti sono stati selezionati in base alle caratteristiche dei clienti, ai benefici di resilienza e all'impatto ambientale. Le microreti utilizzeranno soluzioni energetiche pulite, tra cui solare, stoccaggio di batterie, stoccaggio idroelettrico pompato e biomassa.
PG&E (PCG) ha anunciado planes para otorgar hasta 43 millones de dólares en financiamiento de subvenciones del Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) para nueve nuevas microredes comunitarias en el norte y centro de California. La iniciativa, que forma parte de un programa estatal de 200 millones de dólares, apoyará a comunidades desfavorecidas vulnerables a cortes de energía.
Los proyectos seleccionados abarcan el condado de Humboldt (4 proyectos), el condado de Lake (3 proyectos) y el condado de Marin (2 proyectos), con cuatro que sirven a comunidades tribales. Estas microredes proporcionarán resiliencia a casi 9,000 clientes, incluidos 3,600 con necesidades de acceso y funcionales. Los premios individuales de los proyectos varían de 1 a 6 millones de dólares.
El programa recibió 50 consultas iniciales, de las cuales 22 avanzaron para presentar solicitudes después de recibir subvenciones de desarrollo de 25,000 dólares. Los proyectos fueron seleccionados en base a las características de los clientes, los beneficios de resiliencia y el impacto ambiental. Las microredes utilizarán soluciones de energía limpia, incluidas solar, almacenamiento de baterías, almacenamiento hidroeléctrico bombeado y biomasa.
PG&E (PCG)는 북부 및 중앙 캘리포니아 전역에 걸쳐 아홉 개의 새로운 커뮤니티 마이크로그리드에 대해 최대 4,300만 달러의 마이크로그리드 인센티브 프로그램(MIP) 보조금을 수여할 계획을 발표했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 2억 달러의 주 정부 프로그램의 일환으로, 정전의 위험이 있는 취약한 지역 사회를 지원할 것입니다.
선정된 프로젝트는 험볼트 카운티(4개 프로젝트), 레이크 카운티(3개 프로젝트), 마린 카운티(2개 프로젝트)에 걸쳐 있으며, 이 중 4개는 부족 공동체를 위한 것입니다. 이러한 마이크로그리드는 거의 9,000명의 고객에게 회복력을 제공하며, 그 중 3,600명은 접근 및 기능적 요구가 있는 고객입니다. 개별 프로젝트 수상 금액은 100만 달러에서 600만 달러 사이입니다.
이 프로그램은 50개의 초기 문의를 받았으며, 그 중 22개는 25,000달러 개발 보조금을 받은 후 신청서를 제출하기 위해 진행되었습니다. 프로젝트는 고객 특성, 회복력 혜택 및 환경 영향을 기준으로 선정되었습니다. 마이크로그리드는 태양광, 배터리 저장, 양수 수력 저장 및 바이오매스를 포함한 청정 에너지 솔루션을 활용할 것입니다.
PG&E (PCG) a annoncé des plans pour attribuer jusqu'à 43 millions de dollars de financement de subventions dans le cadre du Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) pour neuf nouvelles microgrilles communautaires dans le nord et le centre de la Californie. L'initiative, qui fait partie d'un programme d'État de 200 millions de dollars, soutiendra les communautés défavorisées vulnérables aux coupures de courant.
Les projets sélectionnés s'étendent sur le comté de Humboldt (4 projets), le comté de Lake (3 projets) et le comté de Marin (2 projets), dont quatre servent des communautés tribales. Ces microgrilles fourniront une résilience à près de 9 000 clients, dont 3 600 ayant des besoins d'accès et fonctionnels. Les subventions individuelles pour les projets varient de 1 à 6 millions de dollars.
Le programme a reçu 50 demandes initiales, dont 22 ont avancé pour soumettre des demandes après avoir reçu des subventions de développement de 25 000 dollars. Les projets ont été sélectionnés en fonction des caractéristiques des clients, des avantages en matière de résilience et de l'impact environnemental. Les microgrilles utiliseront des solutions énergétiques propres, y compris l'énergie solaire, le stockage par batterie, le stockage hydroélectrique par pompage et la biomasse.
PG&E (PCG) hat Pläne angekündigt, bis zu 43 Millionen Dollar an Fördermitteln im Rahmen des Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) für neun neue Gemeinschafts-Mikrogrids in Nord- und Zentral-Kalifornien bereitzustellen. Die Initiative, die Teil eines 200 Millionen Dollar umfassenden staatlichen Programms ist, wird benachteiligte Gemeinschaften unterstützen, die anfällig für Stromausfälle sind.
Die ausgewählten Projekte erstrecken sich über den Humboldt County (4 Projekte), den Lake County (3 Projekte) und den Marin County (2 Projekte), wobei vier Projekte tribal Gemeinschaften dienen. Diese Mikrogrids bieten Resilienz für fast 9.000 Kunden, darunter 3.600 mit Zugang und funktionalen Bedürfnissen. Die individuellen Projektförderungen liegen zwischen 1 und 6 Millionen Dollar.
Das Programm erhielt 50 erste Anfragen, von denen 22 nach Erhalt von Entwicklungszuschüssen in Höhe von 25.000 Dollar zur Antragstellung übergingen. Die Projekte wurden basierend auf den Eigenschaften der Kunden, den Resilienzvorteilen und den Umweltauswirkungen ausgewählt. Die Mikrogrids werden saubere Energielösungen nutzen, darunter Solarenergie, Batteriespeicher, Pumpspeicherkraftwerke und Biomasse.
- Secured $43 million investment in infrastructure development
- Project serves 9,000 customers, expanding service reach
- Diversification into clean energy solutions
- Part of larger $200 million statewide program indicating growth potential
- Strong project pipeline with 50 initial inquiries
- High initial capital investment required
- Complex project implementation with multiple stakeholders
- to specific geographic regions
Insights
PG&E's $43 million commitment to nine community microgrids represents a strategic but financially modest infrastructure investment within the company's broader resilience initiatives. At just ~0.1% of PG&E's
The technical approach is noteworthy—deploying diverse clean energy solutions including solar, battery storage, pumped hydroelectric, small hydroelectric, and biomass across multiple counties. These microgrids will serve 9,000 customers, including 3,600 with special needs, creating resilience hubs that can operate independently during broader grid outages.
This implementation represents one tranche of PG&E's
The structured approach—with rigorous project scoring frameworks evaluating community attributes, resilience benefits, and environmental impacts—demonstrates disciplined capital allocation within regulated parameters. The established track record referenced with existing microgrid projects in Humboldt County provides operational proof points for the expanded initiative.
This announcement demonstrates PG&E's continued compliance with CPUC-mandated resilience programs, a critical regulatory priority in California's evolving utility landscape. By implementing the Microgrid Incentive Program with visible progress, PG&E maintains goodwill with regulators following its complicated history of reliability challenges.
The structured, transparent selection process—evaluating 50 initial inquiries and narrowing to nine projects with clear community benefits—shows regulatory savvy in allocating public-purpose funds. The
Particularly significant is the focus on disadvantaged communities and customers with Access and Functional Needs (AFN), directly addressing equity concerns prominent in current regulatory frameworks. The tribal community focus (four of nine projects) aligns with California's environmental justice priorities.
The second application wave opening April 3 ensures continued momentum in meeting regulatory obligations. While financially immaterial compared to PG&E's broader capital plans, this program demonstrates compliance-oriented infrastructure investment that supports the company's regulatory standing—important considering PG&E's need to maintain positive relationships with California regulators for rate cases and future approvals.
Application Window for Second Wave of PG&E Microgrid Incentive Program Grants Opens April 3
To apply for the second application window, interested parties must submit MIP project ideas to PG&E by May 30, 2025, through an email to communitymicrogrids@pge.com.
The Microgrid Incentive Program funds the development of community microgrids to support disadvantaged communities most vulnerable to outages.
A microgrid consists of a group of interconnected customers and distributed energy resource(s) (DER) that can disconnect from and reconnect to the grid to stay energized during an outage.
Community microgrids are typically designed to serve a variety of vulnerable customers and key community resources such as hospitals, police and fire stations, schools, water treatment and telecommunications facilities, gas stations, markets, and residences, among others.
PG&E received approximately 50 inquiries from tribal governments, local governments and community-based organizations since launching its MIP in late 2023.
22 of the roughly 50 project inquiries advanced through initial program screening requirements and technical consultations with PG&E to submit applications. Each of those 22 projects received an application development grant of
PG&E subsequently selected nine projects following a rigorous evaluation and scoring process. PG&E's project scoring framework evaluated customer and community attributes, resilience benefits, and environmental benefits along with the requested incentive amounts to determine the projects with the highest benefit-to-cost ratio.
Prior to formally accepting the awards, the nine selected wave one MIP projects will perform due diligence to: review the terms of their award; reconfirm their project assumptions, including any changes to projected development costs; and reassess risks associated with other funding sources they may have assumed to be available.
Upwards of
"The North Coast is home to several ground-breaking microgrids that benefit customers in the region, including the Redwood Coast Airport and Blue Lake Rancheria microgrids in
The microgrids selected in the first wave of MIP funding are located throughout PG&E's North Bay and North Coast region and comprise four projects in
Generation resource types for selected MIP projects include a variety of clean energy solutions such as solar, battery energy storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, small hydroelectric, and biomass.
More About MIP
The Microgrid Incentive program is a statewide
Authorized and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, the new program allocates a total of
Customers and communities interested in learning more or applying for grants through the second wave of PG&E MIP grant funding should visit www.pge.com/mip.
Project scoring criteria and information about all the incentives and allowances available, including details on eligibility, how to apply for funding and the process for development of a community microgrid is provided in PG&E's MIP Handbook.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
FAQ
How much funding is PG&E (PCG) allocating for the first wave of microgrid projects in 2025?
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What types of clean energy solutions will PG&E (PCG) implement in the selected MIP projects?
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