Industry Leaders Launch Group to Create a Coordinated Industry Voice for Microgrids in the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 3, 2021

“Think Microgrid” to advance state and federal policy, and serve as a resource to policy makers More than a dozen companies leading the way to improve electric reliability with microgrids today formed a new coalition to represent the industry at the state and federal level. Called “Think Microgrid,” the organization fills the need for a coordinated voice to support the fast-growing microgrid sector in critical policy, legislative and regulatory discussions.

Think Microgrid also will act as an educational resource for policymakers and regulators who are working to ensure electric reliability, achieve clean energy goals, and keep power costs in check. “Microgrids are an essential technology in an era of wildfires, severe freezes, hurricanes, derechos, and other climate disruptions that increasingly demonstrate the vulnerability of our electric grid,” said Cameron Brooks, Executive Director of Think Microgrid. “Most states, however, have not determined how microgrids will be incorporated into the physical grid and the market design. Meanwhile, Congress is beginning to define the role of microgrids in infrastructure improvements and climate policy.“ “Think Microgrid intends to help drive these efforts forward, leveraging the deep knowledge and experience of our founding companies,” Brooks said.

The organization was announced on the final day of Microgrid 2021: The World Awakens to Microgrids, a virtual conference offered by Microgrid Knowledge that attracted more than 4,000 participants. Think Microgrid’s founding members include:

Comments from founding members

• Ameresco: “This is a critical time to focus on microgrid policy and the transformative impact
  microgrids can have on society,” said Mike Bakas, Executive Vice President at Ameresco. “We
  are already seeing the early impact of an administrative focus on climate change mitigation, and
  our goal is to pave the way for well-defined microgrid policies as a critical component to
  resiliency, sustainability, and cost savings. The time to act is now.”
• CleanSpark: “We believe that the importance of microgrids to support communities, business
  and individuals will be critical in the coming years. The aging grid and utility infrastructure has
  reached a critical point, and microgrids can be a solution to many of the prevailing issues. Our
  goal is to help facilitate these grid improvements, bring cost savings to customers and
  stakeholders, while increasing the visibility of clean energy initiatives worldwide,” said Zach
  Bradford, CleanSpark President and CEO.
• Bloom Energy: “Microgrids can protect critical infrastructure, reduce emissions, and prepare
  communities for climate induced severe weather. Bloom Energy is proud to support the Think
  Microgrid initiative, after powering our customers through 335 outages in 2020 alone,” said
  Charles Fox, Vice President of Policy, Bloom Energy.
• DCO Energy: “As an early leader in large microgrid development and operation, we are pleased
  to participate in the Think Microgrid Initiative,” explained Gary Fromer, CEO, DCO Energy. “We
  must educate customers, regulators and other stakeholders now on why and how microgrids are
  essential in enabling energy resilience and sustainability.”
• Eaton: “There is a new power paradigm at play as the world transitions to a far more sustainable,
  low-carbon future,” said John Vernacchia, Energy Transition segment director, Eaton. “Microgrid
  systems that optimize where, when and how electricity is consumed can help accelerate this
  change, and we at Eaton are excited to join forces with Think Microgrid to advance community
  commitments and policy initiatives.”
• Enchanted Rock: “Microgrids are increasingly recognized for their ability to provide backup
  power for critical infrastructure, including defense installations, communities, hospitals, and large
  commercial and industrial facilities such as water utilities and data centers, and also to provide
  critical services to the grid when it is unable to meet demand. During the recent Texas Winter
  Storm Uri, Enchanted Rock microgrids were indispensable in keeping critical infrastructure
  operating and reducing stress on the grid,” noted Allan Schurr, Chief Commercial Officer at
  Enchanted Rock. “Think Microgrid will highlight the important role microgrids will play in the
  energy transition as the most cost-effective way to local and system resiliency and we are excited
  to be a part of it.”
• HOMER Energy by UL: “Microgrids have proven their value for decades in supplying reliable,cost-effective renewable energy. Now as distributed generation paves the way to a clean andresilient energy future, our policy makers need to be better informed as they set a new energyframework for success,” said Peter Lilienthal, HOMER Energy by UL founder and UL global microgrid lead.
• Power Secure: “Over the last 20+ years and over 2000 microgrids installed and managed, PowerSecure has consistently provided our customers with clean, reliable, and resilient energy solutions to prepare for the unexpected – no matter the storm,” said Eric Dupont, Chief Commercial Officer, PowerSecure. “Today, as the industry approaches the intersection of resiliency and the road to net zero – never has there been a more opportune time for a coalition such as Think Microgrid to move forward, re-defining the critical role of microgrid infrastructure, at the forefront of public policy, while building the future of energy, together.”
• PxiSE Energy Solutions: “Microgrids are crucial building blocks to accelerate the adoption of distributed energy resources and utilizing DERs intelligently to meet both local and system needs,” said Patrick Lee, President and CEO of PXiSE Energy Solutions. “PXiSE patented controls technology matches the speed and variability of renewable generation and we have the ability to scale with each state’s distributed energy strategy. With Think Microgrid, we have the opportunity to share our knowledge with regulators and policy makers at this critical juncture in the path toward a greener America, and to encourage legislation and guidelines that pave the way for a clean energy future. PXiSE is proud to work with our Think Microgrid colleagues to give stakeholders the information and tools they need to be leaders and trailblazers in expanding and enhancing the deployment of microgrids.”

MEDIA CONTACT:
Cameron Brooks
Executive Director
cameron@thinkmicrogrid.org

(303) 957-7667
For more information about Think Microgrid, visit www.thinkmicrogrid.org.