New, so-called microgrid projects in Bridgeport and Milford ”“ designed to keep critical buildings and facilities powered if the electrical grid goes down ”“ have been awarded a total $5.1 million through the second round of funding of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection microgrid program.
In Bridgeport, several University of Bridgeport buildings are targeted for upgrades, including a dining hall, recreation center, student center, police station and two residence halls. The microgrid grant will provide almost $2.2 million in funding for design, engineering and interconnection infrastructure costs. The microgrid will be powered by a 1.4-megawatt fuel cell.
The UB buildings will be available to serve city residents during an outage or emergency. They can provide shelter to about 2,700 residents and the dining hall can provide food service to residents as well as emergency responders.
In Milford, the Parsons Government Center, a middle school, a senior center, senior housing and City Hall will see upgrades with about $2.9 million in state funding.
“Residents of Bridgeport and Milford will benefit from these microgrids because they will keep lights on and the power running at critical locations even when the lights go out elsewhere,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in announcing the grants. “Microgrids are an essential part of our strategy to make certain we can better withstand the type of catastrophic storms we have experienced in recent years ”“ and the extended loss of power that accompanies them.”
