Video Interview on Fort Wayne's Microgrid Success: Integrating Renewables for Resilient Municipal Services
Proving that hybrid microgrids get the job done for municipal services directly affecting residents, the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has connected floating solar, battery storage and gas to maintain power resiliency and cut energy costs at its Three Rivers Filtration, Water Pollution Control and Wet-Weather Pumping plants.
Fort Wayne and partners such as engineering firm CDM Smith completed the microgrid project in December 2024. In this video linked below, Endeavor B2B’s Bob Crossen chats with Laurel Schaich, environmental engineer at CDM Smith, about the Fort Wayne microgrid initiative, which hopes to reduce long-term electricity costs by close to $60 million.
Crossen is vice president of content strategy for the water and energy groups at Endeavor. He also worked as the longtime editorial director of Wastewater Digest and has led other water infrastructure-focused publications during his career.
The Fort Wayne microgrid connects the city’s drinking water plant, wastewater plant, and stormwater retention ponds under a single energy management system.
By integrating renewable energy sources—including floating solar panels, natural gas generators, and biogas-fueled combined heat and power—the utility aims to reduce electricity costs, improve resiliency, and maintain affordable rates for customers. Schaich outlines the planning, data analysis, and implementation challenges, and reflects on how this model could shape future energy strategies for utilities.
Key highlights with timestamps
- 00:24 – Fort Wayne’s energy challenges and microgrid origins
- 01:10 – Facilities connected through one microgrid system
- 01:38 – Role of the microgrid controller in energy management
- 02:35 – Cost control and customer protection benefits
- 03:15 – Implementation challenges and energy modeling
- 04:41 – Final system specs: solar and natural gas
- 05:42 – Outlook for microgrid adoption in utilities
- 06:20 – Diversification and renewable energy strategies
- 07:00 – Importance of backup systems for resiliency