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Microgrid Keeps the Power Local, Cheap, and Reliable

technology reveiw -- A recently completed distributed energy project at the large, 4,000-inmate Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, California, ties together power from fuel cells, solar panels, wind turbines, and diesel generators—all located at the jail—to form a microgrid that can operate independently of large, centralized power plants. The system keeps the power on when storms take down the grid, which is essential for safety at the maximum security facility, and it's saving the jail about $100,000 a year.

The jail microgrid is one of the largest and most advanced in the United States. It's the latest example of an emerging smart-grid technology that's providing a cleaner, more reliable, and, in some parts of the country, significantly cheaper alternative to the conventional grid. "In many cases, it has

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Submitted Jul 26, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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RONALD777 Champion Author Houston Posts:2,432 Points:362,755 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jul 27, 2012 8:06:34 PM Ignore RONALD777 Report Abuse Sounds like it is working very well.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,064 Points:1,446,375 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 9:20:35 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Interesting technology.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,345 Points:1,241,375 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 6:42:05 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Sounds good.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,483 Points:732,350 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 8:27:22 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Lets see how it goes.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,464 Points:1,710,635 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 8:17:08 AM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Reputability and reliability are keys to satisfying the public
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,150 Points:1,297,245 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 8:16:17 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse They always talk about the savings but not the cost
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,376 Points:758,070 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 6:41:54 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse Interesting.
ExitRamp Champion Author Orlando Posts:34,120 Points:3,204,635 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 2:26:59 AM Ignore ExitRamp Report Abuse The only dependable thing in the list of off-grid items is the diesel generators. The other concepts cost more to build and maintain than the energy value output.
GoGoGoodyear Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,049 Points:506,355 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 1:07:05 AM Ignore GoGoGoodyear Report Abuse That's fine, as long as it really saves money as claimed, and the money saved on paying the electric bill doesn't instead get spent on maintenance for the other generating systems.
MikeCapeCoral Champion Author Cape Coral Posts:1,927 Points:418,870 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 12:23:26 AM Ignore MikeCapeCoral Report Abuse Just keep feeding them jail food... all the gas you want will be available!
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,984 Points:1,111,375 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 12:16:53 AM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Put all the jail birds on treadmills... The more they walk/run the more electric they get, lights,a/c,heat, hot water, hot food and TV??? YES make them pay their way, not us...
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,476 Points:2,101,040 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 12:09:21 AM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Hope it is successful.
5kvdave All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:688 Points:350,000 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 12:06:47 AM Ignore 5kvdave Report Abuse Cheap ?????? How about maintenance?????
Alaydown Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,106 Points:821,570 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 26, 2012 12:02:31 AM Ignore Alaydown Report Abuse The cost will go up and reliability will go down.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,207 Points:517,550 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:55:48 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse So long as it is reliable and cost effective. Sounds promising.
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:5,528 Points:1,039,150 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:53:17 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Working with architects on a new building design. They are already building major buildings that are entirely off the grid.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,649 Points:2,358,995 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:52:08 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse It would be nice if neighborhoods could take advantage of some of these technologies or condos especially here in Florida.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,741 Points:1,975,675 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:52:05 PM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse GREAT!!! Lets adopt this process and get it into more independent grids as long as it is reliable.
probedude2 Champion Author Akron Posts:12,548 Points:2,379,230 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:51:44 PM Ignore probedude2 Report Abuse A power grid just for a jail! What a concept!
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:8,375 Points:1,894,210 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:49:50 PM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse Wish they were in my area
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,651 Points:1,132,300 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:49:46 PM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse If its successful, maybe the idea could be used at other locations.
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:48:43 PM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Okay
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:8,909 Points:1,732,835 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:47:08 PM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Time will tell the truth.
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,898 Points:1,543,335 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:46:45 PM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse We'll see how long that lasts, the "cheap" part anyway.
Kawibiker Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,170 Points:204,475 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:46:31 PM Ignore Kawibiker Report Abuse good for them..
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,703 Points:730,640 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:43:39 PM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Sounds great, it's just the up front cost that's a killer. P.S. - Road-Runner, I loved your comment . . . I thought it was very PUNny
bigoilscamsus Champion Author Lansing Posts:1,058 Points:48,265 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:43:30 PM Ignore bigoilscamsus Report Abuse Protest high gas prices--any gas priced over $2.50 per gallon!! picket the 15 highest priced gas stations in your area!! Quit a few Bp and Mobil gas stations even along the expressway are not staying open during the late night hours!! Pretty soon , these stations will be self serve by credit card only with no one in the station at all !! Thus Big Oil will lower expenses--hire less employes-- and make more profit at the expense of the American consumer!!
etothek Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,638 Points:329,705 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:41:41 PM Ignore etothek Report Abuse Cool.
singlemom27 Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,103 Points:638,235 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:39:11 PM Ignore singlemom27 Report Abuse We could use all the help we can get managing energy in California.
Road-Runner Champion Author Denver Posts:7,046 Points:1,905,165 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:36:19 PM Ignore Road-Runner Report Abuse More power to them!
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:35:00 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse Right, right, right, except that all of the alternative energy "experts" on GasBuddy say it can't work.
jferrara41 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:598 Points:110,665 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:33:53 PM Ignore jferrara41 Report Abuse ok
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,783 Points:655,095 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:33:24 PM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse m
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,154 Points:2,370,395 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:33:10 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse a security experts nightmare waiting to happen
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,298 Points:1,902,005 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:32:51 PM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse cool
Saunch2012 Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:451 Points:111,105 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:32:18 PM Ignore Saunch2012 Report Abuse ok
BWJM Champion Author KW Posts:1,113 Points:303,780 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:29:30 PM Ignore BWJM Report Abuse ok
2bigtanks All-Star Author Akron Posts:772 Points:371,610 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:28:33 PM Ignore 2bigtanks Report Abuse OKAY
silverfoxv65 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,475 Points:1,228,925 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:28:23 PM Ignore silverfoxv65 Report Abuse Untill some hacker throws a wrench in the works!
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,487 Points:1,509,105 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:27:14 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse I bet the jailbirds are pickled tink.
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,240 Points:2,253,045 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:25:06 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse in la-la land ??..hahahahahaha..
arb0526 Champion Author Greensboro Posts:1,971 Points:408,895 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:22:03 PM Ignore arb0526 Report Abuse Hospitals do it why not prisons?
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:615,645 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:21:58 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse An interesting article
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,094 Points:1,383,940 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:21:44 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Thanks for sharing NHLiveFree. Interesting use of technology that looks forward to a cleaner energy future.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:21:34 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse I like it!!
BobD2009 Champion Author Long Island Posts:6,984 Points:1,238,810 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:21:27 PM Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse Jail birds get cheap energy but everyone else pays through the nose. That's crazy Califonia.
MarAzul Champion Author London Posts:3,771 Points:678,510 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:20:20 PM Ignore MarAzul Report Abuse OOOOH!
LCSTEELERBOB Champion Author Gary Posts:2,961 Points:720,130 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:18:14 PM Ignore LCSTEELERBOB Report Abuse ha ha ha
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,711 Points:599,390 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:18:09 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse Awsumness...
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,712 Points:1,659,840 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:17:48 PM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Plus, it not only saves money, it's better on the environment and better for the inhabitants.