Podcast

Podcast: Wesleyan University’s Microgrid Designed to Resist Outages

May 28, 2015

Wesleyan University’s microgrid, the first to receive funds under the state of Connecticut’s microgrid pilot program, will help avoid power outages, like the one it experienced in 2012 for 77 hours.

Lisa Cohn

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Wesleyan University’s microgrid was the first project to receive funds from the state of Connecticut’s microgrid pilot program, which aims to help utility customers harden their infrastructure. Wesleyan, which can generate 3.1 MW, wants to avoid power outages like the one it experienced in 2012 for 77 hours. The university can generate about 99 percent of its power, and can generate all its power without cooling, says Alan Rubacha, director of physical plant at Wesleyan in this podcast. He explains why microgrids are such a great fit for Wesleyan, which started developing the infrastructure in the 1960s.

About the Author

Lisa Cohn | Contributing Editor

I focus on the West Coast and Midwest. Email me at [email protected]

I’ve been writing about energy for more than 20 years, and my stories have appeared in EnergyBiz, SNL Financial, Mother Earth News, Natural Home Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine, Oregon Business, Open Spaces, the Portland Tribune, The Oregonian, Renewable Energy World, Windpower Monthly and other publications. I’m also a former stringer for the Platts/McGraw-Hill energy publications. I began my career covering energy and environment for The Cape Cod Times, where Elisa Wood also was a reporter. I’ve received numerous writing awards from national, regional and local organizations, including Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Willamette Writers, Associated Oregon Industries, and the Voice of Youth Advocates. I first became interested in energy as a student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where I helped design and build a solar house.

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