DOE invests $8M in 14 microgrid projects
Fourteen projects in Alaska, South Dakota, and Nevada will receive funding and technical support to improve energy access and reliability in remote communities.
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USA: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $8 M in support for 14 microgrid projects aimed at improving electricity reliability and affordability in 35 remote communities across Alaska, South Dakota, and Nevada. The funding comes through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP), an initiative led by the DOE’s Office of Electricity.
These projects target areas where high electricity costs and unreliable service remain persistent challenges, especially in isolated towns often located at the edge of transmission lines. Many rely on diesel generators, which are costly and vulnerable to weather and supply chain disruptions.
C-MAP will provide $5.5 M in direct funding and an additional $2.6 M in technical expertise from DOE national laboratories and the University of Alaska’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power. Twelve of the selected projects are based in Alaska.
Recipients include the Kwig Power Company, Alaska Municipal League, and the Organized Village of Kwethluk, which will develop scalable microgrid models, explore operational strategies, and train local workforces.
Projects in the lower 48 include a partnership among five Sioux Tribes in South Dakota and a feasibility study in Gerlach, Nevada.
The funding will support engineering, design, and implementation of community-based microgrid systems. DOE officials emphasized the need for real-world demonstrations that can be replicated nationwide.
Though selection has been announced, final funding depends on the successful completion of DOE’s negotiation process with the selected applicants. The program seeks to address rural energy challenges by enabling more resilient, locally managed energy systems.
Source: Microgrid Knowledge
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