The risk of major power disruptions from fires and other natural and manmade hazards seems to be increasing and has become the subject of national and international news. At the same time, entire communities are more reliant on energy-dependent services. As a result, reliable power, and more specifically, planned grid resilience is a growing concern for electric utilities across the nation.
This report examines the outcomes of a multi-month Rocky Mountain Institute-supported process to “create” resilience involving utility Holy Cross Energy and various other organizations in Colorado’s Upper Roaring Fork Valley. It highlights key lessons that will be invaluable to energy resilience planning and implementation efforts around the world.
Among these lessons is that when community stakeholders work closely together with the local utility, there is the potential for more efficient solutions with greater benefit to all parties involved. Additionally, resilience-related investments in emerging technologies such as solar and battery storage can simultaneously take advantage of cost declines while advancing regional clean energy ambitions.