Collectively and individually the states of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are considering improved storm preparedness in the aftermath of several historic storm events, including Hurricane Irene in 2011, the Nor’easter snowstorm of 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and more recently Blizzard Nemo/Charlotte.
All of these storms left a trail of unexpected devastation with power outages throughout the region. Blizzard Nemo/Charlotte caused regional outages at a reported 650,000 homes and businesses that were without power at the storm’s peak. Superstorm Sandy caused $195 million of damage to electric utilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire with $145 million of those costs in Connecticut.
As we consider how to prepare for the 2013 hurricane season and for storms after that, we need to question what long-term preventive measures will be effective, protective of our environment and quality of life, compatible with our business plans, productive to support jobs and bolster the economy, and not be excessively costly.
The Connecticut “Report of the Two Storm Panel” issued last year includes recommendations for increased use of performance and engineering standards, improved planning, hardening of the state’s infrastructure, increased communications and collaboration, additional response training, and the use of microgrids and other emerging technologies to mitigate impact to energy infrastructure.
With thoughtful administration by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the “Microgrid Grant and Loan Pilot Program” is moving ahead with deliberate speed that included the submission of applications to determine feasibility. A formal bidding process is expected early in 2013 to identify and select needed, technically feasible, and cost effective projects for development in 2013 and 2014. The idea is to strategically develop smaller distributed generation facilities to serve clusters of mission critical facilities during outages of the centralized electric grid. Mission critical facilities could include shelters, water supply and wastewater disposal facilities, command centers, health centers, gasoline/fueling stations, supermarkets for food and ice, communications facilities, and other facilities deemed necessary by municipalities.
The development of these microgrids is being undertaken in a pragmatic manner to reduce the impact from storm damage in a cost effective manner. Additional benefits could be realized if the state’s own local manufacturing industries were to use their advanced technologies to develop these microgrids as marketable solutions in Connecticut that could also be replicated in other states and countries.
Our domestic industries include companies associated with energy, electric components, fuel cells, fuel processors, and hydrogen production. This electrochemical industry includes over 600 companies in the Connecticut supply chain. While the industry is still emerging, it is clearly in a position for commercial growth to meet market demands. For example, over 25 high efficiency fuel cells, located in the New England and New York area affected by Superstorm Sandy, performed as expected and provided electricity during and after the storm. Even a fuel cell, located in Fairfield, that was shut down temporarily during the storm was repaired quickly and successfully restarted to provide power, though the grid was still out in the area. These fuel cell, fuel processor, and hydrogen production businesses are all part of the Connecticut supply chain, and continue to play a role in local and global markets.
When it comes to advanced technology to meet the energy needs of the public, Connecticut and the rest of the world need to look no further than Connecticut’s own borders to find solutions.
Joel M. Rinebold is director of energy initiatives at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology in East Hartford, and the administrator of the Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition and the Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster.
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