Florida seeks energy self-sufficency

FLORIDA — The Village of Florida submittered an application to week for support in building a community microgrid – a standalone energy system that can operate independently in the event of a power outage.

This application to the first phase of the NY Prize initiative, if successful, would allow the Village of Florida to conduct a microgrid feasibility study.

Florida Mayor James R. Pawliczek Sr. said the microgrid would ensure the continued operation and reduced vulnerability of critical infrastructure and public services that are not only vital to the Village of Florida’s operations, but also by the greater Town of Warwick.

Additionally, a microgrid would act as a replicable model for Orange County, one of the fastest growing regions of the state.

“We believe the project not only can improve reliability and resilience of our village’s electric service, but would also ensure continuation of critical services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the area,” Pawliczek said in his press release detailing the initiative.

If the application is successful, the Village of Florida will be given $100,000 to conduct a feasibility study, and will also have the opportunity to move forward in applying to further phases of NY Prize design and development.

The Village of Florida retained Booz Allen Hamilton, a century-old technology and consulting firm with experience in commercial and military microgrids, to prepare the application.

NY Prize is a first-in-the-nation competition sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Its purse of $40 million will support communities’ efforts to build microgrids, which will reduce costs, promote sustainable, reliable energy, and increase resiliency in the commercial electric grid. The project is a cornerstone of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to make the state a leader in sustainable energy.