PG&E installs microgrids in Colfax, Foresthill for Public Safety Power Shutoff events

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has been at work to make sure portions of Colfax and Foresthill have power during future Public Safety Power Shutoff events. To increase power grid resiliency and provide power to certain neighborhoods during PSPS events, PG&E has completed a temporary microgrid in Colfax and is constructing a temporary microgrid in Foresthill. A temporary microgrid is a grouping of electric lines and infrastructure that PG&E can quickly isolate, or island, from the larger electric grid. PG&E can safely provide electricity to customers within the microgrid when the surrounding lines need to be turned off. Though each temporary microgrid will vary in size and capability, each includes devices that can disconnect the temporary microgrid from the larger electrical grid and pre-determined space and connection equipment for a backup generator. Paul Doherty, communications spokesperson for PG&E, said each microgrid site includes hookups for temporary power. During PSPS events, PG&E would bring diesel generators to the sites to provide power to the smaller grid. He said PG&E is also looking into ways to use cleaner energy sources for these microgrids. While microgrid systems such as this could be used during winter weather storm events, every storm is different, Doherty said. "Depending on the storm, it may be faster to make repairs to a downed power line than it would be to bring in generators to activate the microgrid," Doherty said. The new microgrids aim to lessen the impact of PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff events, which have increased in the last few years due to the many dangers of wildfire season. "The microgrids in Colfax and Foresthill are among the many sites PG&E is developing across our service area in 2021 as a part of the company's comprehensive actions to reduce wildfire risks across our system and minimize the effects of public safety outages on our customers and communities," said Debbie Powell, interim head, Electric Operations, for PG&E. The Colfax temporary microgrid was completed and made operational in December; PG&E intends to upgrade the site in 2021 to allow for faster and more stable connections of temporary generators. Doherty said the microgrid has not been used yet. The microgrid is located in the parking lot behind the Colfax Railroad Junction building at the corner of North Main Street and Grass Valley Street downtown. PG&E will be able to rapidly connect mobile generators to the site, allowing a fire station, school, bank, post office, city administration building, pharmacy, gas stations, markets and restaurants, among other businesses, community services and some residences to remain energized during PSPS events. The energization area includes 391 customers in communities east of Interstate 80 near North Main Street, south of Gearhart Street and north of Treasurton Street. The new microgrid generation site in Foresthill, anticipated to be complete by May, is adjacent to the PG&E substation at 5860 Sunset Drive off Foresthill Road. The site will keep power flowing to Foresthill High School, a water agency, wellness center, church, gas station, market, post office, bank and other businesses, facilities and community services during PSPS events. The energization area includes 14 PG&E customers in the general vicinity of Foresthill Road, extending between Baltimore Mine Road and Racetrack Street. PG&E has six temporary microgrid generation sites ready to use throughout its service area, including the Colfax site. Nine additional sites, including Foresthill, are under development. The Colfax and Foresthill sites are the only Placer County microgrids.