Dive Brief:
- The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria intends to install a hybrid microgrid — including solar, wind and energy storage — to help the Tish Non Tribe reduce a community center’s energy usage during peak hours.
- The tribe will work with JLM Energy, which will provide a 30 kW microgrid to support the building's operations during a power outage.
- Backed by a 100 kW solar system and 20 wind turbines, the system will actively work to reduce demand charges and provide an integrated and sustainable solution.
Dive Insight:
It may be the first hybrid microgrid installed by a California tribe, according to the Bear River Band, which provides services to the Tish Non Tribe. The group "has a long-term investment in sustainability," according to Edwin Smith, tribal council member and director of environment and natural resources.
In a statement Smith explained that the tribe is working with JLM Energy, and that the company's solution "is really unique in that it brings solar, wind and energy storage together. We can optimize all our efforts for energy self-reliance."
JLM's "Gridz" system will help the tribe reduce the community center’s energy use by shaving peak demand charges, according to Barry Brenard, a tribal council member. JLM’s cloud-based energy management software, "Measurz," monitors loads in real-time for efficiency and energy optimization.
“This important green energy project demonstrates our respect for natural resources, self-reliance and tribal sovereignty," Brenard said in a statement.
The tribe currently has one 10-KW wind turbine which has been providing power for a component of the tribal wastewater treatment infrastructure for a number of years. The small existing wind turbine generates up to 9,751 kWh of power each year.