This project seeks to replace an aging diesel generator with a microgrid consisting of an 850-kilowatt floating solar PV array and a 500 kilowatt (KW) / 1,147 kilowatt-hour (KWH) battery storage…

This project seeks to replace an aging diesel generator with a microgrid consisting of an 850-kilowatt floating solar PV array and a 500 kilowatt (KW) / 1,147 kilowatt-hour (KWH) battery storage system sited on the community's water treatment plant reservoir, helping to increase the reliability of clean drinking water. The community's municipal water treatment plant relies on a backup diesel generator during periods of high demand and power outages. The aging generator has become unreliable which halts operations at the water treatment plant and negatively impacts communities in this region of colorado. Households in rural colorado have faced historic challenges securing a reliable clean water supply, particularly in areas where groundwater is contaminated. As part of its community benefits plan, the microgrid aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the project performer, united power, and the city of fort lupton. IT is anticipated that project construction could create six full-time equivalent jobs, and united power will partner with local aims community college and the bueno center for multicultural education to provide contracting outreach in this community. United power will work with schneider electric to design, build and operate the fully integrated microgrid, which will improve power resiliency at the water treatment plant, reduce water evaporation, and help the city deliver reliable water services. To make this unique project economically viable, united power and the city of fort lupton plan to enter an innovative, 20-year agreement allowing united power to own the microgrid while the city of fort lupton pays for microgrid upgrades. The project's potential benefits include improved energy resiliency, a 9% decrease in the city's monthly power bill, and reduced evaporation from the water treatment plant reservoir. This model could serve as an example for other microgrid partnerships between small, rural utilities and local public works departments, which can expand access to clean and resilient energy in rural communities nationwide.