Power Resilience in Chico: Microgrids for Fire Safety and Reliability
Abstract
How can we reduce the need for public safety power shutoffs in Northern California?
We propose the development of an underground, weather-resistant microgrid to mitigate the impacts of frequent Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in Chico, CA. The implementation serves as a pilot program to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of undergrounding and microgrid deployment in high fire risk areas. If successful, we will push for microgrid deployment on a broader scale to reduce PSPS in Northern California and to meet California’s clean energy objectives. The proposed disaster-resistant microgrids are localized systems that minimize the disruptions caused by power shutoffs during wildfires, while also bolstering the resilience of electrical systems against severe weather. Having an electrical structure hardened to be fire resistant will reduce infrastructure damages and mitigate the risk of widespread wildfires, lowering net costs compared to rebuilding in the long term. Adopting a community battery on our microgrids will enable the local grid to run independently, even after the main electrical grid experiences a power outage or disconnection. Disaster-resistant microgrids are the next step in modernizing these critical power systems, which will protect essential services and vulnerable communities from the impacts of power loss, reduce reliance on high-emission contingencies, and improve overall energy equity. Drawing on data from successful implementations, our approach offers a feasible and sustainable solution to Public Safety Power Shutoffs in Chico.
