New York Bolsters Resilient Energy Future with Innovative Microgrid Competition

(NEW YORK – July 8, 2015) Governor Cuomo today announced the winners of the NY Prize Community Grid Competition, aimed at helping New York achieve a more sustainable, resilient energy future. The competition seeks to jump-start independent, community-based microgrids that can operate independently from the centralized electric grid in the event of a power outage. The awards to 83 communities will be used to study the feasibility of community microgrids in various environments throughout the state.  These community microgrids could ultimately incorporate local, distributed clean energy resources such as solar and wind energy.

“New York’s innovative NY Prize competition helps lay the groundwork for a resilient energy system that can withstand the effects of extreme weather events brought on by climate change and bounce back quicker from the next Sandy. The awardees will work to develop community-based microgrids throughout the state that support New York’s clean energy vision and pioneering utility reform effort.”

• Rory Christian, Director, New York Clean Energy