Microgrids, already growing in demand because of wildfires, hurricanes, the pandemic and energy equity issues, are likely to soon experience another boost — the climate policies of President-elect Joe Biden.
Biden’s “Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice” makes several pledges that could influence the microgrid market:
- A “historic investment” of $1.7 trillion in clean energy, climate research and innovation over the next decade
- Incentives for rapid deployment of clean energy innovations across the economy, especially in communities impacted by climate change
- Spending by federal facilities on clean energy resilience
- The linking of environmental justice to energy planning
“With his shift in priorities to a lower carbon energy future and away from propping up various aspects of the fossil fuel industry, the election of Joe Biden as president can only help microgrids – especially those incorporating renewable energy. Rather than focused on dated arguments pitting the economy against the environment, Biden buys into the value proposition that new clean energy technologies are the wave of the future,” said Peter Asmus, research director for Guidehouse Research.
Congressional Democrats already have signaled their support for microgrids in the “Moving Forward Act,” legislation introduced in June that specifically named microgrids as part of its $1.7 trillion infrastructure proposal. The legislation would offer financial and technical assistance, grant programs, and feasibility studies for microgrids, as well as various incentives for distributed energy resources.
In addition, Reps. Nanette Diaz Barragán from California and Yvette Clarke from New York recently introduced the Energy Resilient Communities Act, which would specifically provide $1.5 billion in grants for clean energy microgrids.
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