Nreca Research

This Project Plans to Create a Consortium of Rural Electric Cooperatives and Deploy Microgrids (including Solar PV, Battery Storage Systems, and Distribution Upgrades) Across Seven Rural Communities in California, North Carolina, Minnesota, Arizona, Tennessee, and Montana. This National Microgrid Deployment Effort Aims to Demonstrate Region-specific Energy Systems That Improve Energy Access, Enhance Energy Resilience, and Increase Capacity for Renewable Energy Deployments at a Community Level. Establishing a Consortium of Rural Utilities Could Enable Communities to Collectively Pursue Federal Funding, Addressing Capacity Constraints and Financial Barriers. the Cooperatives Seek to Devise Methodologies and Implementation Strategies Tailored to Their Local Community, Sharing Best Practices With the Broader Membership of Almost 900 Utility Cooperatives During Annual Meetings. as Part of Its Community Benefits Plan, More Than 70% of Consortium Members Have a Collective Bargaining Agreement in Place to Deliver Economic and Workforce Development to Their Local Communities. Specifically, These Projects Anticipate Creating an Estimated 85 Full-time Temporary Jobs.