Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat from California, will be the keynote speaker today at Microgrid California: Keeping the Power Flowing During Grid Disruption, a one-day regional event hosted by Microgrid Knowledge in the San Francisco Bay Area. The educational forum is designed for California businesses, institutions and communities that are curious about how microgrids can benefit them.
US Rep. Jimmy Panetta, author of the MICROGRID Act
A supporter of clean energy, Panetta represents California’s 20th Congressional District, which includes Monterey and San Benito counties, as well as other parts of the central coast. The region is seeing an increased interest in microgrid projects, in part, because of the growing number of public safety power shutoffs as utilities attempt to prevent new wildfires from sparking during severe weather. According to Panetta, “You’re seeing not just towns but also individuals and homes and remote areas in my district — they’re all pivoting to microgrids.”
Earlier this year, Panetta introduced a bill (H.R. 2482) into the US House of Representatives that’s designed to increase the deployment of microgrids in California and beyond by making them more affordable. The bill is called the Making Imperiled Communities Resistant to Outages with Generation that is Resilient, Islandable and Distributed Act, or MICROGRID Act. “Expanding and deploying microgrids can harness clean energy sources, keep our homes and critical infrastructure connected when the larger grid fails, and lead to reliable and consistent electricity for our homes and safety for our communities,” Panetta said.
If passed, the bill would provide a 30% tax credit for new 4-kW to 50-MW microgrids through 2025. The credit would decrease each subsequent year until 2028 when it would be 10%. The tax credit would expire in 2029.
Microgrid California: Keeping the Power Flowing During Grid Disruption will provide opportunities for attendees to participate in four problem-solving sessions with microgrid experts. All sessions will focus on microgrid issues important to Californians, including the technology’s use in agriculture, education, business and government. The event also offers a technology exhibit hall and extensive networking opportunities. Panetta is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
The event is sold out.
