Last year, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 22-1013 which created the Microgrids for Community Resilience act and grant program which focuses on enhancing resilience for community anchor institutions (such as schools, fire stations, and hospitals). In rural communities, those centralized community spaces are critical – especially in times of extreme weather or emergencies.

The grants are intended to create alternative microgrids in rural communities “that are at significant risk of severe weather or natural disaster events,” the act states, and can be anchored by a school, hospital, law enforcement agency or other community facility.

It was determined through an energy audit that Telluride High’s energy usage could be reduced and lowered with additional PV and a new battery energy storage system. The BESS will serve 2 roles, one to provide the building with grid resilience and grid services. Subsequently Telluride High School was equipped with 200kW of PV, and Current Energy provided a 250kW by 5550 kWh battery system. This system is providing back up for the main distribution switchboard. Due to the size of the school a larger system was provided in order to back up the entire school.