San Mateo County officials are backing an ambitious fix for ongoing and sustained power outages in Pescadero: a solar-and-battery community microgrid that would keep much of the town powered even when the wider grid fails. If built, it would be one of the largest projects of its kind in California.
This week, the Board of Supervisors approved a $3 million commitment toward the project, joining a $10 million pledge from Peninsula Clean Energy, the countywide clean-power agency. The local match is intended to strengthen an application for Pacific Gas & Electric’s Microgrid Incentive Program, which favors projects with significant financial contributions from local partners, according to a press release.
“With this investment we embrace a resilient reliable clean energy future, for a community that for decades has been a victim of one of the Bay Area’s worst power infrastructures,” Supervisor Ray Mueller, who represents the South Coast, said in the release. “By committing to invest in this solar microgrid, we are keeping people safe, kids in school, small business open and making a decisive move towards a climate resilient future for seniors and families living in Pescadero. And we are providing a safety hub where people can travel to during natural hazard events, for those living in the large area of unincorporated San Mateo surrounding Pescadero.”
Between 2021-22, Pescadero endured 25 outages that stretched longer than a day, and at one point residents were without electricity for nearly two weeks. The disruptions have closed schools, spoiled food, forced businesses to close and interrupted operations at Puente de la Costa Sur, the local Core Service Agency, according to the release.
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